Harry Kane wins 2026 Ballon d’Or, Alexia Putellas claims third women's title

England captain Harry Kane won the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or in London on Monday, becoming the first Englishman to claim football’s most prestigious individual award since Michael Owen in 2001, while Spain’s Alexia Putellas secured her third women’s title.

The Bayern Munich striker received the award at the London Palladium following a season in which he scored 73 goals for club and country, including 61 for Bayern, helping the German side win the Bundesliga and German Cup.

Kane also helped England finish third at the 2026 World Cup, strengthening his case against fellow contenders Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé. Putellas, meanwhile, added a third Ballon d’Or to the awards she won in 2021 and 2022, following a season in which she helped Barcelona secure a treble before joining London City Lionesses in July.

Her victory ended Aitana Bonmatí’s three-year reign as the women’s award winner.

Moroccan nominees miss out on individual awards

Morocco had three players shortlisted across different categories.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi finished 13th in the men’s Ballon d’Or rankings, ahead of teammate Vitinha, Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

Manchester City midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi finished sixth in the men’s young talent rankings, while Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou placed eighth in the Yashin Trophy voting.

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal won the men’s young talent award for the third consecutive year, while teammate Vicky López retained the women’s equivalent.

Spain’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Unai Simón collected the men’s Yashin Trophy, with Barcelona’s Cata Coll winning the women’s award.

Spain and Barcelona dominate other prizes

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was named men’s Coach of the Year after guiding his country to the 2026 World Cup title.

Barcelona coach Pere Romeu received the women’s coaching award, while Barcelona was named women’s Club of the Year.

Paris Saint-Germain retained the men’s Club of the Year prize following another successful European campaign.

Kane also collected the men’s Gerd Müller Trophy for his goalscoring record, with Mexico’s Charlyn Corral winning the women’s award.

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka received the Sócrates Award for humanitarian work through the BigShoe charity. The ceremony marked the Ballon d’Or’s 70th anniversary and its first staging in London, honouring England’s Stanley Matthews, the inaugural winner in 1956.

winners, Harry Kane, Alexia Putellas, Achraf Hakimi, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Yassine Bounou, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé,

The post Harry Kane wins 2026 Ballon d’Or, Alexia Putellas claims third women's title appeared first on HESPRESS English - Morocco News.