England's Harry Kane Wins 2026 Ballon d'Or After Record-Breaking Season

England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d'Or, one of football's most prestigious individual awards. The 33-year-old received the honour at a ceremony held at London's Palladium on October 26. With this achievement, Kane became the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001. In the final rankings, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé finished second, while Barcelona star Lamine Yamal secured third place. Lionel Messi was placed fifth.

Kane's remarkable performances throughout the 2025–26 season played a decisive role in his victory. He scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich across all competitions and added 12 goals for England, taking his combined tally to 73. His contribution helped Bayern secure both the Bundesliga title and the German Cup. Kane also played a key role for England, who finished third at the World Cup. During his acceptance speech, he thanked those who supported him throughout his career and highlighted the importance of hard work and determination. In the women's category, Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas won the Ballon d'Or Féminin for the third time, having previously claimed the award in 2021 and 2022.