England captain Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to receive football’s most prestigious individual award.
The Bayern Munich striker was announced as the winner at the 70th edition of the ceremony, held at the London Palladium on Monday, 26 October 2026.
Kane, 33, finished ahead of France international Kylian Mbappé, who placed second, and Spain’s Lamine Yamal, who came third. His victory ends England’s long wait for another men’s Ballon d’Or winner since Michael Owen received the honour in 2001.
The award follows an outstanding 2025/26 campaign in which Kane scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and England. He netted 61 times for the German club and added 12 goals for his country.
His performances helped Bayern secure the Bundesliga title, the DFB-Pokal and the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. He also finished as the Bundesliga’s leading scorer for the third consecutive season and scored 14 goals in the Champions League as Bayern reached the semi-finals.
Kane’s contribution to the England national team further strengthened his case for the award. He scored six goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, helping England finish third in the tournament.
Speaking after receiving the trophy, Kane expressed gratitude to those who had supported his career, including his teammates, coaches and family. He also acknowledged the importance of collective effort in achieving individual success.
Kane’s triumph places him among a select group of English players to have won the award, joining Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.
The Ballon d’Or, established in 1956 by French magazine France Football, recognises the outstanding individual performer in football over the relevant season. The winner is selected by an international jury of specialist journalists, who assess individual performances, team achievements and sportsmanship.
In the women’s category, Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas won the Ballon d’Or for the third time, following previous victories in 2021 and 2022.
Kane’s achievement marks a significant moment for English football and adds another milestone to a career defined by consistent goalscoring at club and international level.
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