England striker Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich star and England captain, has been awarded the 2026 Ballon d’Or at a ceremony held on the evening of Monday 26 October at the London Palladium in the British capital.Kane’s (33) win came after an exceptional season in which he scored 73 goals in 65 matches for his club and country, beating France’s Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) and Spain’s Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).Kane is the first English player to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001, and the first Bayern Munich player to receive it since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.Kane played a key role in Bayern’s Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal triumphs, scored 14 goals in the Champions League, and added 6 goals at the World Cup, where he helped England finish third.In his acceptance speech, Kane said: “I’m almost lost for words. Winning in London made it even more special. I thank everyone who voted for me, and I dedicate this award to my Bayern and England team-mates.”Results of other major awards:
- Women’s Ballon d’Or: Alexia Putellas (Spain) for the third time.
- Kopa Trophy (best young player): Lamine Yamal (for the third consecutive time).
- Women’s Kopa Trophy: Vicky López.
- Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper): Unai Simón (men’s) and Cata Coll (women’s).
- Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer): Harry Kane (men’s) and Charlene Corral (women’s).
- Socrates Award: Bukayo Saka.
- Best club: Paris Saint-Germain (men’s) and Barcelona (women’s).
- Best coach: Luis de la Fuente (men’s) and Peri Romeo (women’s).
The ceremony was held in London this year for the first time in the award’s history, in honour of Stanley Matthews, the first Ballon d’Or winner in 1956.With this win, Harry Kane writes a new page in the history of English football, after many years of waiting.
