Harry Kane won the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or at the London Palladium theater after scoring 73 goals in 65 matches for Bayern Munich and England last season. The award recognizes individual achievement in soccer. Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe finished second, while Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal placed third.
Kane became the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001. He also ended a long wait for Germany’s top league, the Bundesliga, whose previous winner was Matthias Sammer in 1996. Bayern Munich had not produced a winner since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge received the prize in 1981.
In his speech, Kane thanked his family and praised the teammates who helped create his scoring chances. He also reflected on his early career, when he spent time on loan, temporarily playing for other clubs. His journey to the top was not direct, and he hoped it would encourage young people to follow their dreams.
At the same ceremony, Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time, following her victories in 2021 and 2022. She finished ahead of fellow Spanish player Claudia Pina and England’s Alessia Russo. Putellas encouraged young players to approach soccer with love and passion.
