England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to claim football’s most prestigious individual award.
Kane received the honour at a ceremony held at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, beating strong competition from France’s Kylian Mbappé and Spain’s Lamine Yamal.
According to Reuters, the 33-year-old enjoyed a remarkable 2025/26 season, scoring 73 goals for club and country, including 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich.
His goals helped Bayern secure the Bundesliga title and the German Cup, while he also scored six goals as England reached the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Kane’s triumph marks the end of England’s 25-year wait for the men’s Ballon d’Or, following Michael Owen’s victory in 2001.
The England captain described the achievement as special, expressing gratitude to those who supported him throughout his career.
The award recognises a season of outstanding individual performances, decisive contributions and team achievements, as determined by an international panel of football journalists.
Mbappé finished second in the voting, while Yamal placed third. Yamal, however, received the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award.
In the women’s category, Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the Ballon d’Or Féminin for the third time.
England winger Bukayo Saka also received the Sócrates Award in recognition of his humanitarian work.
The 2026 ceremony marked the first time the Ballon d’Or awards, organised by France Football in partnership with UEFA, were held in London.
(Reuters)
