England captain Harry Kane has etched his name into football history after winning the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to claim the prestigious individual award at the Palladium Theatre in London on 26 October.
The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker received the honour at the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony at London’s Palladium Theatre on Monday, 26 October, beating France’s Kylian Mbappé and Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
Kane becomes only the fifth Englishman to win the award, joining legendary names Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen, who was the last English winner in 2001.
His triumph was built on an outstanding 2025/26 campaign, during which he scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country. His performances helped Bayern retain their Bundesliga crown and secure domestic honours, while he also contributed to England’s successful World Cup campaign.
Kane’s achievement is particularly significant given his long pursuit of major honours after years of near misses with Tottenham Hotspur and England. His move to Germany has brought domestic silverware, and the Ballon d’Or now adds the most prestigious individual recognition of his career.
Kane also collected the Gerd Müller Trophy for striker of the year, while Yamal won the men’s young-player award for the third consecutive year.
In the women’s category, Spain’s Alexia Putellas claimed her third Ballon d’Or, returning to the summit after injury setbacks earlier in her career. Her success continued Spain’s remarkable dominance of women’s football.
Barcelona’s influence was also evident across the awards, with the Spanish club recognised in the women’s club category.
The ceremony’s move to London made history, celebrating the award’s English roots through its inaugural winner, Sir Stanley Matthews.
For Kane, the evening marked a career-defining moment and a landmark achievement for English football.
Caption:
Spain and Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas and England and Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane pose with their trophies after winning the women’s and men’s Ballon d’Or awards. Photo (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
By Rudi Bowe
