Harry Kane wins 2026 Ballon d’Or, ending England’s 25-year wait

Harry Kane won the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or at the London Palladium on Monday, 26 October, becoming the first English player to receive the award since Michael Owen in 2001.

The Bayern Munich striker claimed his first Ballon d’Or after a season in which he scored 73 goals for club and country. The organisers confirmed his victory during the ceremony, with former Brazil striker Ronaldo presenting the men’s award.

Kane had already collected the men’s striker-of-the-year honour earlier in the evening, completing a double of individual awards in London.

A prolific season for Bayern and England

Bayern’s records show Kane scored 61 goals in 51 club appearances during the 2025/26 campaign. His 36 Bundesliga goals secured the European Golden Shoe for the second time, following his success in 2023/24.

He helped Bayern win the Bundesliga and DFB Cup, with the German club also lifting the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup.

The Bundesliga’s season review records a further 12 goals in 14 appearances for England, bringing his combined total to 73 in 65 matches. Six of those international goals came at the World Cup, where England finished third.

Kane’s win ends a 25-year wait for another English winner of the Ballon d’Or. The ceremony itself marked the award’s 70th anniversary and its first staging in London, in tribute to inaugural winner Stanley Matthews.

Putellas takes women’s award

Alexia Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time, adding the 2026 award to her victories in 2021 and 2022.

Other winners included Lamine Yamal, who claimed a third successive men’s young-player award. Paris Saint-Germain won the men’s club honour, while Barcelona took the women’s club award.