Harry Kane wins Ballon d'Or, first English player since 2001

Harry Kane received the Ballon d'Or on Monday, becoming the first English player to claim the award in 25 years. The honor follows a season in which the Bayern Munich and England captain scored 73 goals across club and country competitions. His achievement places him alongside Michael Owen, the last English winner in 2001.

Kane's performance was defined by consistent output rather than isolated moments of brilliance. He recorded 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich during the 2025-26 campaign. That production helped the German club secure both the domestic league title and the national cup. He also contributed six goals at the World Cup, guiding England to the semi-finals.

The competition for the award was intense, featuring players who had standout individual performances at the World Cup. Kylian Mbappe broke scoring records at the tournament and finished in second place. Lamine Yamal, who helped Spain win the World Cup, placed third. Rodri and Lionel Messi rounded out the top five.

Kane addressed the audience at the ceremony in London, expressing his gratitude to the voters. He noted that the presence of so many elite players made the achievement more meaningful. He thanked his former coaches, his family, and Tottenham Hotspur, the club where he began his professional career.

The award also recognized other top performers in global football. Alexia Putellas won the women's Ballon d'Or for the third time. She had previously won a treble with Barcelona in the 2025-26 season before moving to London City Lionesses in July. Lamine Yamal won the young player award, marking his third such honor.

Luis de la Fuente was named the men's coach of the year, while Barcelona's Pere Romeu received the women's coaching honor. Unai Simon took the men's goalkeeper award, and Cata Coll won the women's equivalent. Paris Saint-Germain was named the men's club of the year, and Barcelona received the women's club honor.

Bukayo Saka, the Arsenal and England winger, received the Socrates Award for his humanitarian efforts. Charlyn Corral was named the top women's striker. The ceremony concluded with the distribution of these accolades, capping a year of high-level competition across the men's and women's game.