Harry Kane becomes first English Ballon d’Or winner in 25 years

Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first English player to receive football’s prestigious individual award in 25 years.

Kane was presented with the award during the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26.

The 33-year-old finished ahead of Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappé, who placed second, and Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal in third.

73 goals for club and country

Kane’s award follows an extraordinary 2025–26 campaign in which he scored 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England.

He scored 61 times in 51 appearances for Bayern across all competitions, including 36 Bundesliga goals and 14 in the UEFA Champions League.

He added another 12 goals for England during the period considered for the award.

His performances helped Bayern collect major domestic honours, while Kane also finished the Bundesliga season as its leading scorer.

The official Ballon d’Or website said Kane’s 36 league goals earned him another European Golden Shoe.

First English winner since Michael Owen

Kane becomes the first Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen claimed the award in 2001.

He is only the fifth English player to win the men's award, following Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.

Kane is also the first Bundesliga-based player to win the Ballon d’Or since Borussia Dortmund’s Matthias Sammer in 1996.

Kane also wins Striker of the Year

It was a double celebration for Kane in London after he was also named Men’s Striker of the Year for the second time.

Lamine Yamal won the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award, while Paris Saint-Germain were named Men’s Club of the Year.

The 2026 ceremony marked the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or and was held in London for the first time, paying tribute to inaugural 1956 winner Sir Stanley Matthews.

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