England captain Harry Kane has been crowned the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner, beating France’s Kylian Mbappé and Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to football’s most prestigious individual award.
The Bayern Munich striker claimed the honour at a star-studded ceremony at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, becoming the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001.
Kane’s victory followed an outstanding 2025/2026 campaign in which he scored an incredible 73 goals for club and country, helping Bayern Munich secure domestic honours while also delivering impressive performances for England.
The 33 year-old finished ahead of Real Madrid forward Mbappé, who came second, while Barcelona youngster Yamal took third place in the voting.
Kane’s achievement marks a remarkable milestone for English football, ending a 25 year wait for another English winner of the award first presented in 1956.
The striker’s triumph also reflects his transformation into one of the world’s most prolific goalscorers, following years of dedication and determination to establish himself among football’s elite.
Kane becomes only the fifth Englishman to win the men’s Ballon d’Or, joining legendary names such as Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time, further cementing her status as one of the biggest names in women’s football.
With Kane now at the summit of world football, the Bayern Munich star has finally added the sport’s most coveted individual prize to his remarkable collection of achievements.
