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Kane Wins Ballon d'Or, First English Winner Since 2001

Updated 11:06 AM ET · 7:16 AM ETConfirmed

Sports Desk

In Short: Harry Kane, England's captain, won the Ballon d'Or on Monday, becoming the first English player to claim the prestigious award since Michael Owen in 2001.

Harry Kane, England's captain and talisman, won the Ballon d'Or on Monday, October 26, becoming the first English player to claim the prestigious award since Michael Owen in 2001. The award ceremony took place at the London Palladium, where Kane was crowned the world’s best male soccer player, receiving the Ballon d’Or from Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário.

Kane's triumph marks a significant milestone for English football, as he is only the fifth Englishman to ever win the Ballon d'Or. The award, voted by journalists across the world, is widely seen as the pinnacle of individual achievement in football.

Kane, who now plays for Bayern Munich, finished ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal in the voting. He scored 73 goals for club and country last season, leading Bayern to a domestic double of the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, ending the club’s five-year drought in the latter competition.

Kane expressed his joy at winning the award, saying, 'It being here in London as well has made it extra special.' He also reflected on his journey, stating, 'My journey wasn’t straightforward. I wasn’t the kid who went straight to the top. I had to experience the downs. I had to fight my way to be the very best right now. I hope that can give you inspiration as well.'

The Ballon d'Or ceremony also saw Alexia Putellas win the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time, adding another prestigious individual honor to her remarkable career. Putellas, a Barcelona midfielder, led her team to multiple trophies last season, including the Women’s Champions League.

Former France international Samir Nasri has sparked debate over Kane’s triumph, arguing that the England captain has never been the player to carry his team through the biggest matches. However, Kane’s impact at Bayern has been significant, with German journalist Raphael Honigstein saying, 'Harry is one of the great personalities of world football and a role model to all, far beyond the game.'

Kane's success at Bayern Munich has been a source of pride for the club and the league. Bayern Munich chairman Herbert Hainer said, 'I ran out of superlatives to describe your performances a long time ago, but I'm delighted to see that you have now been formally recognised by the football world. To become the first Englishman to win this huge honour in 25 years makes it extra special and we are lucky to have you as our leader.'

The award ceremony was a celebration of the world’s best players, with large images from the Bundesliga projected onto landmarks across London, such as The Strand and Tate Modern, featuring the words 'England Hero. Bundesliga Legend.'

Kane's win also highlights the importance of individual achievement in football, with some questioning the balance between individual accolades and team success. El Pais captured the tension, writing, 'What would have been a historic double escaped: in London, goals prevailed over titles.'

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony brought together the biggest names in world soccer at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, with Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas winning the respective male and female Ballons d’Or as the world’s best male and female players.
• Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas claimed the Women’s Ballon d’Or, adding another prestigious individual honor to her remarkable career.
• Harry Kane was crowned the world’s best male soccer player, receiving the Ballon d’Or from Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário.
• Harry Kane claimed the Men’s Ballon d’Or at the ceremony in London, while Alexia Putellas won the women’s award as Spain and Barcelona dominated the other major categories.
• The two trophies went their separate ways again in 2016, with Fifa creating their own “The Best” award, but the Ballon d’Or, voted by journalists across the world, is still widely seen as the pinnacle.
• A women’s award – the Ballon d’Or Feminin – was also introduced in 2018, with Spanish duo Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati each winning three times.
• The award is widely seen as the most prestigious in football's calendar The brainchild of France Football magazine journalist Gabriel Hanot, the Ballon d’Or is widely seen as the most prestigious award in the footballing calendar.
• "This achievement also underlines that the Bundesliga is a stage where the very best players in the world perform at the highest level." Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen added: "For a player from a German club to win the Ballon d'Or for the first time in 30 years is a strong signal for the Bundesliga," he said.
• "He now joins a line with Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge - that says everything about our history."

What's still developing

• Only Brazil's Ronaldo, in 1997, was younger than Owen when he won the Ballon d'Or in 2001 We won't hold it against Michael Owen for suggesting he didn't know what the Ballon d'Or was when Gerard Houllier first rang to announce he'd won it.
• But who among the five to have held the coveted prize is England's greatest Ballon d'Or winner?
• Live updates all day, breaking news as it happens and weather every 10 minutes Alèxia Putellas speaks after receiving the Ballon d'Or Féminin for the third time.
• Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The Women's Super League has never been able to boast a Ballon d'Or winner.
• “Anything is possible with hard work, when no one else is watching, to go through the ups and downs, to learn through resilience, determination and self-belief,” an emotional Kane said.
• "For 30 years [since Matthias Sammer in 1996], no Bundesliga player has won the most coveted trophy in world football. And for 45 years, not a Bayern Munich player has won it [since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge]. The message Kane is sending to all the world's superstars: It's possible in the Bundesliga too."
• Kane ends England's 25-year Ballon d'Or wait - how he bucked the trend Quiz: Kane and who else?
• "The Messi-Iniesta controversy returns: Spain's only voter says Kane doesn't deserve the Ballon d'Or."
• "He's made a huge difference," he told BBC Radio 5 live.
• Kane has embraced that challenge, delivered on the pitch, and earned recognition for his remarkable achievements.
• Between 1956 and 1995 the “Golden Ball” trophy was awarded to the best European player each year before a change of rules meant any footballer based in Europe was eligible.
• Putellas, 32, joined Spain teammate Aitana Bonmati as the only other three-time women's Ballon d'Or winners.

Sources

• BBClink
• Bavarian Football Workslink
• Bundesliga | official websitelink
• Sky Sportslink
• The Indian Expresslink
• The i Paperlink
• Nbclosangeleslink
• Arabnewslink
• The Indian Expresslink
• Channel 3000link
• Diario ASlink
• WarpBeat — background on Ranking England's Ballon d'Or winners link
• WarpBeat — background on Harry Kane Wins Ballon d'Or, First English Winner Since 2001 link
• CBS Sports Golazo — video link