Harry Kane Wins 2026 Ballon d'Or, First English Winner Since Michael Owen
Harry Kane has been awarded the 2026 Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Englishman to win the prize since Michael Owen in 2001. The Bayern Munich and England striker beat Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal to the award at a ceremony in London on Monday night.
- Winner: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)
- Runner-up: Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid & France)
- Third: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona & Spain)
- Ceremony: London, delayed by 45 minutes to 8:45pm due to traffic
- Kane's 2025/26 goals: 73 for club and country
What was said
"Wow, I'm almost speechless. First of all, thanks again to France Football and the Ballon d'Or for this amazing event. Being in London, it is extra special; it felt like a good omen. Thank you to everyone for voting for me. I can imagine it was very tough. Thank you to everyone that voted for me."
Kane's emotion was clear as he collected the trophy in the capital. The 32-year-old forward reflected on the significance of winning in London, calling it "extra special" and a "good omen". His humility in thanking voters underlined the magnitude of ending a 25-year wait for English football.
The striker's speech came after a chaotic build-up in which the Ballon d'Or website mistakenly published three separate articles naming Kane, Mbappe and Yamal as the winner. All three were taken down before Kane was confirmed.
The numbers
- 73 β Kane's goals for club and country last season
- 25 β years since an Englishman last won (Michael Owen, 2001)
- 3 β articles prematurely published naming different winners
- 45 β minutes the ceremony was delayed
Full Ballon d'Or 2026 rankings
- Harry Kane β Bayern Munich & England
- Kylian Mbappe β Real Madrid & France
- Lamine Yamal β Barcelona & Spain
- Rodri β Man City/Barcelona & Spain
- Lionel Messi β Inter Miami & Argentina
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia β PSG & Georgia
- Ousmane Dembele β PSG & France
- Erling Haaland β Man City & Norway
- Michael Olise β Bayern Munich & France
- Fabian Ruiz β PSG & Spain
- Jude Bellingham β Real Madrid & England
- Pau Cubarsi β Barcelona & Spain
- Achraf Hakimi β PSG & Morocco
- Vitinha β PSG & Portugal
- Declan Rice β Arsenal & England
- Ferran Torres β Barcelona/PSG & Spain
- Vinicius Junior β Real Madrid & Brazil
- Marc Cucurella β Chelsea/Real Madrid & Spain
- Joao Neves β PSG & Portugal
- Willian Pacho β PSG & Ecuador
- Gabriel β Arsenal & Brazil
- Lautaro Martinez β Inter Milan & Argentina
- Nuno Mendes β PSG & Portugal
- Luis Diaz β Bayern Munich & Colombia
- Marquinhos β PSG & Brazil
- Dayot Upamecano β Bayern Munich & France
- Bruno Fernandes β Man Utd & Portugal
- Julian Quinones β Al Qadsiah & Mexico
- = William Saliba β Arsenal & France
- = Sadio Mane β Al Nassr & Senegal
All 2026 Ballon d'Or winners
- Men's Ballon d'Or: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)
- Women's Ballon d'Or: Alexia Putellas (London City Lionesses/Barcelona & Spain)
- Men's Coach of the Year: Luis de la Fuente (Spain)
- Women's Coach of the Year: Pere Romeu (Barcelona)
- Men's Young Talent of the Year: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona & Spain)
- Women's Young Talent of the Year: Vicky Lopez (Barcelona & Spain)
- Men's Striker of the Year: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)
- Women's Striker of the Year: Charlyn Corral (CF Pachuca & Mexico)
- Men's Goalkeeper of the Year: Unai Simon (Athletic Club & Spain)
- Women's Goalkeeper of the Year: Cata Coll (Barcelona & Spain)
- Men's Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain
- Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
- Socrates Award: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal & England)
Chaos before Kane was announced
Hours before the ceremony, the Ballon d'Or website published three separate articles naming Kane, Lamine Yamal and Mbappe as the winner. One link read: "A record-breaking welter of league and cup goals in 2025/26 has propelled Harry Kane to Ballon d'Or success." Further links were found hailing Mbappe and Yamal as victors. All three were removed before Kane was confirmed.
Why Kane's win is fully deserved
Kane's 73-goal haul for Bayern Munich and England last season was extraordinary. No other player in world football came close to that tally, and it is fitting that the award returns to England for the first time in a quarter of a century. The striker's consistency at the highest level has finally been recognised with the game's ultimate individual prize.
At 32, Kane has silenced any remaining doubts about his standing among the greats. His ability to score from anywhere β inside the box, from distance, with either foot or his head β made him unstoppable. Bayern's dominance in Germany and England's progress under Luis de la Fuente provided the platform, but Kane's finishing was the defining factor.
The win also ends a long wait for English football. Since Owen's triumph in 2001, several English players have come close but fallen short. Kane's achievement will inspire a generation and cement his legacy as one of the finest forwards this country has produced.
Talking points
- Should the Ballon d'Or be decided purely on goals? Kane's 73 is staggering, but Mbappe and Yamal offer creativity that stats don't capture.
- The website leak fiasco raises questions about the award's credibility β three different winners published before the ceremony is amateurish.
- At 32, is this Kane's last chance to win it? He'll need another freak season to fend off younger challengers.
- Bukayo Saka's Socrates Award for humanitarian work shows football's growing social conscience, but does it distract from on-pitch achievements?
What happens next
Kane returns to Bayern Munich as a Ballon d'Or winner, with the Bundesliga club set to celebrate his achievement in their next home match. England fans will hope he carries this form into the next international window. Meanwhile, the Ballon d'Or organisers face questions over the pre-ceremony leaks.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 Ballon d'Or?
Harry Kane won the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or, with Alexia Putellas winning the women's award.
Who was the last English player to win the Ballon d'Or before Kane?
Michael Owen was the last English winner, in 2001. Kane is the first since then.
How many goals did Harry Kane score in the 2025/26 season?
Kane scored 73 goals for club and country last season.
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