Harry Kane has won the men’s Ballon d’Or 2026, becoming the first Englishman to claim football’s leading individual award since Michael Owen in 2001. The Bayern Munich striker received the trophy at a ceremony in London on Monday, 26 October, after helping Bayern win domestic silverware and England finish third at the World Cup. Harry Kane finished ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal in the voting, turning a prolific campaign into the biggest individual honour of his career.

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Harry Kane ends England’s long wait

The 33-year-old is the fifth English player to win the Ballon d’Or, following Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen. His victory also ends a 30-year wait for a Bundesliga player, with Borussia Dortmund’s Matthias Sammer the last winner from Germany’s top flight in 1996. Harry Kane scored 73 goals for club and country during the 2025-26 campaign, including 61 for Bayern and 12 for England. He won the Bundesliga and German Cup with Bayern, while England’s run to third place at the 2026 World Cup included six goals from their captain. Bayern also won the German Super Cup, and Kane scored 14 Champions League goals before the club’s semi-final exit. Ballon d’Or 2026 voting weighs individual performances, team success and fair play. Bayern’s previous winner was Karl-Heinz Rummenigge back in 1981.

Mbappe and Lamine Yamal complete the top three

Kylian Mbappe finished second, with Lamine Yamal taking third place. Rodri was fourth and Lionel Messi fifth. The top three reflected Kane’s scoring, Mbappe’s Real Madrid season and Yamal’s influence for Barcelona and Spain. The result gives Harry Kane a career milestone. He had not previously finished higher than tenth in the Ballon d’Or voting. Mbappe missed out on the main prize, while Lamine Yamal added a third straight Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player. No player had won that award twice before Yamal’s run. Kane also collected the men’s Striker of the Year honour. The Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony gave him two awards.

Putellas wins women’s award as PSG make history

Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time, having previously claimed it in 2021 and 2022. She became the second player to win the women’s prize three times, after Spain teammate Aitana Bonmatí. Paris Saint-Germain were named Men’s Club of the Year for the second consecutive year, becoming the first club to achieve back-to-back wins in the category. Barcelona won the women’s club award after their Champions League success. Luis de la Fuente and Pere Romeu were named men’s and women’s coaches of the year, while Unai Simón and Cata Coll took the goalkeeper honours

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Vicky López won the women’s Kopa Trophy, Charlyn Corral received the women’s Striker of the Year award, and Bukayo Saka was presented with the Sócrates Award for social and humanitarian work. For Harry Kane, the award recognises a season of goals and team success. The Ballon d’Or 2026 places him among England’s celebrated footballers, 25 years after Owen’s win.

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