Harry Kane has been crowned the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner, becoming the first English footballer since Michael Owen in 2001 to claim the sport’s top individual prize. The Bayern Munich and England striker’s staggering 73-goal season for club and country earned him the honor at a ceremony in London.
Kane edged out Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal for the coveted trophy, with his relentless scoring—since moving to Bayern from Tottenham—inspiring both club and country.
“Wow, I’m almost speechless… It’s just the journey. For any young boy or girl who wants to achieve their dream, anything is possible,” Kane reflected, crediting his winding path from Tottenham, to loan spells, to the very top.
Kane follows in the footsteps of English legends Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan, and Michael Owen as Ballon d’Or winners.
Awards Night Highlights
Women’s Ballon d’Or: Alexia Putellas (London City Lionesses/Barcelona & Spain)
Men’s Young Talent: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona & Spain)
Women’s Young Talent: Vicky Lopez (Barcelona & Spain)
Men’s Striker of the Year: Harry Kane
Women’s Striker of the Year: Charlyn Corral (CF Pachuca & Mexico)
Men’s Goalkeeper: Unai Simon (Athletic Club & Spain)
Women’s Goalkeeper: Cata Coll (Barcelona & Spain)
Men’s Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain
Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona
Socrates Award (Humanitarian): Bukayo Saka (Arsenal & England)
Men’s Coach of the Year: Luis de la Fuente (Spain)
Women’s Coach of the Year: Pere Romeu (Barcelona)
The event was not without drama—hours before the official announcement, the Ballon d’Or website mistakenly published three separate stories each naming Kane, Mbappe, and Yamal as winners before confirming Kane’s triumph.
Key Men’s Ballon d’Or Rankings
1. Harry Kane – Bayern Munich & England
2. Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid & France
3. Lamine Yamal – Barcelona & Spain
4. Rodri – Manchester City / Barcelona & Spain
5. Lionel Messi – Inter Miami & Argentina
6. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – PSG & Georgia
7. Ousmane Dembele – PSG & France
8. Erling Haaland – Manchester City & Norway
9. Michael Olise – Bayern Munich & France
10. Fabian Ruiz – PSG & Spain
11. Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid & England
12. Pau Cubarsi – Barcelona & Spain
13. Achraf Hakimi – PSG & Morocco
14. Vitinha – PSG & Portugal
15. Declan Rice – Arsenal & England
16. Ferran Torres – Barcelona / PSG & Spain
17. Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid & Brazil
18. Marc Cucurella – Chelsea / Real Madrid & Spain
19. Joao Neves – PSG & Portugal
20. Willian Pacho – PSG & Ecuador
21. Gabriel – Arsenal & Brazil
22. Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan & Argentina
23. Nuno Mendes – PSG & Portugal
24. Luis Diaz – Bayern Munich & Colombia
25. Marquinhos – PSG & Brazil
26. Dayot Upamecano – Bayern Munich & France
27. Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United & Portugal
28. Julian Quinones – Al Qadsiah & Mexico
=29. William Saliba – Arsenal & France
=29. Sadio Mane – Al Nassr & Senegal
England boss Thomas Tuchel and Prince William led the tributes to Kane, hailing both his record-breaking season and his legacy as an inspirational role model.
With this landmark win, Kane further cements his place among English football’s all-time greats.
