Ballon d’Or nomination makes Tessa Wullaert happy at Como

Tessa Wullaert (33) is the first Belgian ever nominated for the Ballon d’Or, an honour she receives while playing for Como, captaining the Red Flames. After a striking move from Inter to the Italian promotion side, she finally feels completely at home.

Luck in Italy

She scores, she shines and feels completely at home again in Italy. “Thanks to Como I might actually want to stay abroad even longer,” she says. At Como English is the main language, the coach gives her confidence and the surroundings offer greenery instead of the grey concrete of Milan.

Unique Ballon d’Or nomination

Her mother and mother‑in‑law were visiting Italy that day; later she received a message from Como’s physical coach: “Wow Tessa!” She opened Instagram and saw her name on the official Ballon d’Or‑account, truly among the thirty best players worldwide. The Red Flames sent “finally”, which meant a lot to her because they have known her for years and appreciate her achievements.

Roberto Martinez as UEFA analyst in Como, back to Belgium?

Impact of the move

After two seasons at Inter, Wullaert made a surprising move last summer to Como 1907, a promotion side in the Italian league. Her salary remains a secret, but she became the highest‑paid player ever in Italian women’s football. “My manager called me crazy because I was still hesitating,” she says, explaining that she chose Como because she was given the freedom to showcase her game there.

She thought months ago about a return to Belgium, but now the distance feels much less. Her boyfriend Mathias Deveugele comes to Italy more often, sometimes ten days in a row, with their dog Jean‑Marie – something that never happened in eleven years together. A few weeks ago they were on a boat on Lake Como and shouted out loud: “Check us out here now, okay!”

On Sunday she still has a match with Como against Sassuolo, after which she flies to London for the Ballon d’Or‑gala on Monday evening at the London Palladium. Her dress is already arranged, the hotel via FIFA, and she only still needs to book her flight from Milan to London, but she is really looking forward to the evening.