Harry Kane is the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or winner, becoming the first Englishman to take football’s most prestigious individual trophy in 25 years. His name emerged from the final envelope two hours into a ceremony at the Palladium Theatre in London, drawing wild cheers from the auditorium.
Moments earlier, the women’s Ballon d’Or was awarded to Alexia Putellas of London City Lionesses. It was her third Ballon d’Or, coming five years after her first, which she won with Barcelona.
In the men’s vote, Kane finished ahead of co-favourites Lamine Yamal of Barcelona and Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid. The result may prompt familiar consternation among the hierarchies of those clubs, as well as among the vast online fan armies attached to the superstar players trailing Kane. The trophy, sponsored by L’Équipe, is awarded by a vote of journalists and administrators across football.
Kane’s award follows a year in which he won the European Golden Boot, played a major role in Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga title and captained England to a World Cup semi-final. Speaking as he received the trophy, Kane said: “It was really tough this year, the incredible players I was up against.” He congratulated the other nominees and thanked many of the players he has played alongside. “I am almost speechless. Being here in London has made it extra special,” he added. The Wembley Stadium arch was lit gold in honour of his win.
As a goalscorer, Kane’s numbers this year are astonishing: 89 goals for club and country since the start of August 2025. At Bayern, he has also become a favourite in the Bundesliga for his all-round game, creativity, intelligence and professionalism. Bayern paid a record €100m fee up front for Kane three years ago, a transfer that broke the club’s usual recruitment patterns and raised concerns because he was 30 at the time. His contribution on and off the pitch has since made that outlay appear entirely vindicated.
As a Ballon d’Or winner, Kane now enters rarefied company. He inherits a prize that revolved around the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry for so many years, and which promises not only a form of sporting ultimacy but a vast uplift in current and future commercial earnings. More widely, the award is a coronational moment for Kane, 16 years into a professional career that has included loan spells at Leyton Orient and Millwall and a long effort to make it in the Premier League.
Earlier this month, Kane equalled England’s all-time caps record while moving his international goal tally to 91 in 125 appearances. Aged 33, he still has the home European Championship in two years in his sights as England captain, and with it a final opportunity for a different kind of footballing immortality.
The ceremony also recognised other winners. Lamine Yamal and Vicky López took the Kopa Trophy for under-21 players, Unai Simón and Cata Coll won the Yashin Trophy for goalkeepers, and Kane and Charlyn Corral received the Gerd Müller Trophy for strikers. Luis de la Fuente and Pere Romeu were honoured with the Johan Cruyff Trophy for coaches, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona were named Club of the Year, and Bukayo Saka received the Sócrates Award.