LONDON, United Kingdom — England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, beating French forward Kylian Mbappé and Spanish youngster Lamine Yamal to claim football’s most prestigious individual award.
Kane was announced as the winner at a ceremony held at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, becoming the first Englishman to win the men’s award since Michael Owen in 2001.
The 33-year-old earned the honour following an outstanding 2025/26 campaign in which he scored 73 goals for club and country, establishing himself among the leading forwards in world football.
His impressive performances helped Bayern Munich secure major domestic honours, while his contributions to England’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup further strengthened his credentials for the award.
Kane scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern across all competitions, helping the German giants win the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal. He also scored six goals at the World Cup as England finished third.
Mbappé, who plays for Real Madrid, finished second in the voting, while Barcelona’s teenage sensation Yamal placed third. Rodri and Lionel Messi completed the top five.
Speaking after receiving the award, Kane expressed gratitude to those who supported his journey, acknowledging the hard work and perseverance that helped him reach the pinnacle of world football.
The victory represents a major milestone in Kane’s career, having previously established himself as one of Europe’s most prolific strikers during his time at Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Bayern Munich in 2023.
Beyond the main award, Kane also won the men’s Striker of the Year prize, recognising his exceptional goalscoring record during the season.
Meanwhile, Spain international Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time, adding another major individual honour to her career.
Barcelona’s Yamal received the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award, while Unai Simón was named Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year. Paris Saint-Germain won the Men’s Club of the Year award.
Kane’s triumph marks a historic moment for English football and caps a remarkable season for the Bayern Munich forward, whose consistency, goalscoring ability and leadership propelled him ahead of some of the game’s biggest names.
