Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d'Or, the organisers announced at a ceremony held on Monday evening at the London Palladium. The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker and England captain became the first English footballer to receive the award since Michael Owen in 2001.
Kane finished ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal in the voting. During the season, he scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and the England national team, with eight assists. He won the league title, the DFB-Pokal and the Super Cup with the German club, and also claimed the European Golden Shoe.
At the 2026 World Cup, Kane led England to third place, their best finish since winning the world title in 1966. He scored six goals at the tournament, reaching the semi-finals and securing a bronze medal. His move from London to Bayern Munich in 2023 proved decisive for this career trajectory.
The Ballon d'Or celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, having been first awarded in 1956 to Englishman Stanley Matthews. Kane thus becomes the fifth English footballer to win the award, joining Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen. He dedicated the prize to manager Vincent Kompany, who is in hospital.
Several hours before the winner was announced, pre-prepared texts mistakenly published on the official Ballon d'Or website presented various footballers as award winners, including Kane, Mbappé and Yamal. The organisers explained that the texts did not reveal the actual outcome of the voting.
In the women's competition, Alexia Putellas won her third Ballon d'Or, having previously received the award in 2021 and 2022. She spent last season at Barcelona, with whom she won the Women's Champions League, before moving to English side London City Lionesses in the summer.
Lamine Yamal was named the best young footballer for the third consecutive year, while the best manager award went to Luis de la Fuente. Paris Saint-Germain was named the best men's club, and Barcelona the best women's club. Unai Simon won the best goalkeeper award, and the Socrates Award went to Bukayo Saka, who is recognised for his humanitarian work and social engagement, with a focus on Nigeria and the BigShoe organisation, as well as funding 120 medical operations for children.
In the women's competition, Pere Romeu was named manager of the year, Catalina Coll goalkeeper of the year, Vicky Lopez best young player, and Charlyn Corral top scorer. Harry Kane was named the men's top scorer.
