Even Hollywood royalty can get a little weak in the knees when meeting America's Sweethearts. Timothée Chalamet, the Dune star and global heartthrob, proved he's just like the rest of us during Tuesday's FIFA Men's World Cup semifinal between Spain and France at Dallas Stadium.
Chalamet, who has French roots, was in the stands to cheer on Kylian Mbappé and Les Bleus. Unfortunately for him, France fell 2-0 to Spain, ending their World Cup run. But before the match, the actor had a moment that clearly outshone the final score: he met members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC).
In a video posted by the official DCC account, Chalamet can be seen grinning ear to ear as he greets the squad. He even recognized one of the cheerleaders by name, calling out, “Anna Kate!”—a clear nod to his fandom of the Netflix series America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
“I'm starstruck,” Chalamet said in the clip, flipping the script on who usually does the gawking. The actor, known for roles in Wonka and Marty Supreme, looked genuinely thrilled to be in their presence.
Fans online ate it up. “ANNA KATE I LOVE THIS FOR YOU OMG,” one wrote. Anna Kate herself responded, “I'm speechless🥹🥹🥹.” Another fan joked, “That no touch rule went out that window 😂😂,” referencing the DCC's strict code of conduct. “This is truly a fabulous group of DCCs 😍 this is AKs time to shine for sure!!” added another.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have been a fixture at AT&T Stadium during the World Cup, which has hosted several matches. Owner Jerry Jones's venue has been buzzing with soccer action, though Jones himself faced some boos from the crowd during the semifinal—a story that's been making headlines. But for the DCC, meeting a megastar like Chalamet was surely a career highlight.
Chalamet's reaction underscores how the World Cup has become a magnet for celebrities. From Hollywood stars picking sides to viral moments with athletes, the tournament is as much a pop culture event as a sporting one. Even Tom Holland got ghosted by a soccer star earlier this week—proving that even A-listers aren't immune to the unpredictability of the beautiful game.
The World Cup continues Wednesday with another semifinal: Argentina vs. England. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. ET on FOX. As for Chalamet, he may have left Dallas without a French victory, but he left with a memory that clearly meant more than a win.
