Harry Kane Wins First Ballon d’Or as England’s First Champion in 25 Years

Posted : 27 October 2026

England captain Harry Kane has won the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or, becoming the first English player in 25 years to receive football’s most prestigious individual honour. The Bayern Munich striker claimed the award at a ceremony at the London Palladium on Monday, finishing ahead of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal.

The 33-year-old enjoyed an exceptional 2025-26 campaign, scoring 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern and England. His prolific performances helped the German club secure major domestic honours, while he also contributed six goals as England finished third at the World Cup. Kane’s achievement ends the country’s long wait for another men’s Ballon d’Or winner since Michael Owen received the award in 2001.

Speaking after collecting the trophy, Kane expressed his pride at winning the award in London and representing England on football’s biggest stage. He also acknowledged the importance of his teammates and coaches in helping him reach the highest level of the game. His success follows years of consistent performances, with his decision to join Bayern in 2023 proving instrumental in taking his career to another level.

Despite his status as England’s all-time leading goalscorer and Tottenham Hotspur’s record scorer, Kane had previously struggled to secure major international and European titles. He lost the 2019 Champions League final with Tottenham and experienced two European Championship final defeats with England. His achievements in Germany have since added significant silverware to his career and strengthened his reputation as one of the world’s leading forwards.

Meanwhile, Alexia Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time, returning to the top of the women’s game after overcoming a serious knee injury. The Spanish midfielder previously won the award in 2021 and 2022 before an anterior cruciate ligament injury disrupted her progress. Her latest success recognises her contribution to Barcelona’s impressive campaign, which included winning the Women’s Champions League, before she moved to London City Lionesses.

Yamal, who was among the leading contenders for the men’s award, collected the Young Talent of the Year prize for the third consecutive time. However, the 19-year-old finished third in the main voting, behind Kane and Mbappé. The French forward secured second place despite another prolific season for club and country, as he continued his pursuit of his first Ballon d’Or.

Spain enjoyed a successful evening in the coaching categories, with national team manager Luis de la Fuente named Men’s Coach of the Year after guiding Spain to World Cup glory. Barcelona coach Pere Romeu received the women’s coaching award following his team’s trophy-winning season.

Paris Saint-Germain were named Men’s Club of the Year after winning a second consecutive Champions League title, although their players missed out on the main individual honours. Barcelona received the Women’s Club of the Year award, while Spanish goalkeepers Unai Simón and Cata Coll won the men’s and women’s goalkeeper prizes, respectively. Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka was also recognised with the Sócrates Award for his humanitarian work.

The ceremony marked the first time the Ballon d’Or awards had been held in England, adding extra significance to Kane’s triumph in his home city. His achievement and Putellas’ return to the top provided two of the evening’s defining moments, while Spain’s success across several categories underlined the country’s continued influence on international football.

Harry Kane Wins First Ballon d’Or as England’s First Champion in 25 Years

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