Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Englishman to claim football’s most prestigious individual prize in 25 years. 

The Bayern Munich striker was presented with the award at the 70th edition of the ceremony, held at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, to loud cheers and chants of his name from the audience.

Kane beat Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal to the trophy, which is organised by France Football and decided by a jury of 100 journalists from around the world. Each juror ranks 10 players from a 30-man shortlist, and the player with the most points overall wins. Kane is the fifth English player to win the award, and the first since Michael Owen in 2001.

At 33, he also becomes one of the oldest first-time winners in the award’s history.

The honour rewards a remarkable campaign for club and country. Kane was the driving force for Bayern in the Bundesliga and the Champions League, and he led England to the semi-finals of the World Cup, finishing the season with 73 goals in all competitions.

In an emotional acceptance speech, he thanked the journalists who voted for him and acknowledged how difficult the decision must have been. He also paid tribute to Tottenham Hotspur, saying he would not be standing on that stage without the club where his career took off.

The race was one of the most open in recent years, shaped by a World Cup that Spain won. Mbappé became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals, 10 of them at this year’s tournament, while Yamal starred for the champions. Yamal was named the Men’s Young Player of the Year on the night, but used his brief speech to say that teammate Pau Cubarsí deserved the prize more.

Spain also collected Coach of the Year for Luis de la Fuente and Goalkeeper of the Year for Unai Simón.

Kane succeeds Ousmane Dembélé, the 2025 winner, and Rodri, who won in 2024. Elsewhere at the ceremony, Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or for a third time.

Photo Credit: Getty Images