Harry Kane’s Ballon d’Or triumph produced some fascinating reactions from the other nominees. Body language expert Inbaal Honigman has now analysed the responses of Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Lamine Yamal, and Ousmane Dembélé when the Bayern Munich striker was announced as the winner.
Starting with Kane himself, Honigman interpreted his initial reaction as genuine shock before his hands moved into a prayer position, suggesting gratitude.
“Harry Kane’s initial response is genuine shock. He
glances downwards, eyebrows raised questioningly. His hands fly to his face, cupping his mouth and nose in an emergency protective cover—the cupped hands allowing him to breathe easily, as if he’s planning to keep this protective cover over his face for a while. Within a couple of seconds, Kane flashes his eyes upwards, beseeching himself to make a move rather than stay sat down. The winner stands, his hands still covering his face, as they turn into a prayer position, which indicates gratitude,” Honigman told Hard Rock Bet.
Honigman was less convinced by Mbappé’s reaction, describing his congratulations as somewhat cold.
“Kylian Mbappé’s greeting is a little cold. His hand, tapping Harry Kane’s back, remains flat and tense, and his eyes are lowered. Mbappé is not really sharing in Kane’s joy,” said Honigman.
Olise, meanwhile, appeared genuinely delighted for his Bayern Munich teammate, with Honigman highlighting the warmth and authenticity of their interaction.
“Michael Olise is truly happy for Kane. He smiles a small, genuine smile for him, cheeks raised and eyes open. The hug that the two share is equal and warm, as they lean towards each other in a similar way,” Honigman stated.
Dembélé also appeared happy for Kane, with Honigman interpreting his gesture as one of genuine warmth and support.
“Dembélé is happy for Kane, rubbing his back with his open palm in a warm and soothing way,” Honigman remarked.
And then there was Yamal, whose reaction attracted perhaps the most attention. Honigman suggested that his expression went beyond ordinary disappointment.
“Lamine Yamal’s facial expression starts with disappointment, eyes lowered, pensive. But as the seconds tick on, and his neutral face remains uninterrupted by any other expression or facial cue, it becomes apparent that Yamal is actually frozen with shock and devastation. If it were just a momentary dropped, neutral face, this could suggest that he’s lost in thought. However, the length of this expression indicates a more complex emotional reaction, one that cannot be brushed off quickly,” said Honigman.
Quite the collection of reactions to Kane’s achievement! Olise’s warm embrace of his teammate certainly stands out, while Yamal’s response will likely remain a talking point.
Of course, body language analysis is interpretation, not definitive proof of what someone is thinking or feeling.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- New, improved notifications system!
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
