Newsmakers

England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has won the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to receive football's most prestigious individual honour. Kane was announced as the winner at a ceremony at London's Palladium Theatre on Monday, October 26, following an outstanding season for club and country.

The 33-year-old finished ahead of Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid, who came second, and Lamine Yamal of Barcelona, who finished third.

Kane's victory ends England's long wait for the award. The last English player to win the men's Ballon d'Or was Michael Owen in 2001. Kane is now the fifth Englishman to claim the prize, joining Owen, Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan.

Record-Breaking Season Powers Kane to Victory
Kane's performances during the 2025-26 campaign proved decisive in the voting. The Bayern Munich forward scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country, including 61 goals for Bayern and 12 for England, underlining his consistency and remarkable finishing ability.

At club level, Kane helped Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal and the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. He also scored 14 goals in the UEFA Champions League as Bayern reached the semi-finals.

His achievements extended to international football, where he helped England secure third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Kane scored six goals in the tournament, adding another significant milestone to an already impressive career.

Kane Calls It the Best Season of His Career
Reacting to the achievement, Kane described the campaign as the best of his career and acknowledged the contribution of his teammates, coaches and support staff.

“Wow, I'm almost speechless,” Kane said while accepting the award, thanking France Football and the voters for recognising his performances. He also highlighted the importance of playing alongside teammates who pushed him to improve in training and matches.

The striker's Ballon d'Or triumph represents a major personal milestone after years of prolific scoring in English and German football. Despite establishing himself as one of Europe's most consistent goalscorers, he had never previously finished higher than 10th in the men's Ballon d'Or rankings.

Ballon d'Or 2026: Other Major Winners
The ceremony also recognised several other leading figures in men's and women's football.

- Women's Ballon d'Or: Alexia Putellas
- Men's Young Talent of the Year: Lamine Yamal
- Women's Young Talent of the Year: Vicky Lopez
- Men's Goalkeeper of the Year: Unai Simon
- Men's Coach of the Year: Luis de la Fuente
- Men's Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain
- Socrates Award: Bukayo Saka

Putellas secured the women's Ballon d'Or for the third time, while Yamal was recognised as the outstanding young talent in men's football.

A Landmark Moment for English Football
Kane's victory is a landmark moment for English football, bringing one of the sport's most coveted individual awards back to an English player for the first time since 2001.

His remarkable goalscoring record, domestic silverware with Bayern Munich and contribution to England's World Cup campaign combined to make him the standout candidate for the 2026 honour.

For Kane, the Ballon d'Or is not just recognition of a prolific season but also a defining achievement in a career built on persistence, consistency and an exceptional ability to find the back of the net.

Ballon d'Or 2026: Top Five Finalists
The 2026 men's Ballon d'Or rankings featured some of the biggest names in world football. Harry Kane claimed the top spot, finishing ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.

The top five players in the final rankings were:
Harry Kane — Bayern Munich / England
Kylian Mbappe — Real Madrid / France
Lamine Yamal — Barcelona / Spain
Rodri — Manchester City / Spain
Lionel Messi — Inter Miami / Argentina