Harry Kane has been named the world's best player at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony. The Bayern forward has won the most prestigious individual award in his career for the first time.
Kane outperformed Kylian Mbappé in the voting, while Lamine Yamal finished behind Mbappé. Yamal was one of the strongest candidates for the award but ultimately secured a lower position. The point difference between Kane and Mbappé is smaller than that between Rodri and Vinicius in 2024, when the gap was 41 points. The final point totals are expected to be published in the Saturday edition of France Football.
Kane scored 73 goals in 65 matches last season. He won the Bundesliga and the German Cup with Bayern, and reached the Champions League semi-finals. With the England national team, he won bronze at the World Cup.
Mbappé won the Golden Boot at the World Cup and was also the top scorer in Spain's La Liga. Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, took fourth place in this year's voting. Votes for Spanish players were split between Rodri and Lamine Yamal.
Yamal is a World Cup winner, but he scored only one goal at the tournament and started the match injured. The award is presented by France Football, whose editor-in-chief is Vincent Garcia.
