Harry Kane won the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or at the London Palladium Theatre on Monday night. The Bayern Munich striker scored 73 goals in 65 matches for his club and England last season. He finished ahead of Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in the vote by journalists.
Kane is the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001, ending a 25-year wait. He is also the first player at a German club to win since Matthias Sammer in 1996. Bayern Munich had waited even longer: their previous winner was Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.
During an emotional speech, Kane thanked his family and the team-mates who helped him score. He explained that his route to the top had not been straightforward, including several temporary moves to other clubs early in his career. He hoped his experience would encourage young people to follow their dreams.
In the women's category, Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas won her third Ballon d'Or, following victories in 2021 and 2022. She finished ahead of fellow Spaniard Claudia Pina and England's Alessia Russo. Putellas expressed her gratitude for 14 seasons at Barcelona and encouraged young players to approach football with love and passion.
