Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or to become the first English player to win the men’s prize since Michael Owen in 2001. The Bayern Munich striker was presented with the honor at a ceremony in London on Monday 26 October.
Kane, 33, was all-smiles after a stellar season with Bayern and England in 2025-26. He scored 73 goals in club and international matches, helping Bayern win both the Bundesliga title and the German Cup. His fine form also took England to the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup.
It’s one of the biggest individual awards in the game. It is presented by France Football and is decided by a vote of international football journalists. He beat out Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal who were also in the running.
Kane’s record of scoring goals went a long way to his success. He scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern in all competitions during the season. He also netted 12 times for England, six of them in World Cup finals. His efforts made him England’s top scorer at the tournament.
It also marks an important moment for English football. Owen was the last English player to win the men’s Ballon d’ Or winning the prize while playing for Liverpool out in 2001. Owen joins Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan in the English winners’ roll of honor. Kane is the fifth Englishman to win the award.
Kane thanked France Football and the people who voted for him as he accepted the award. He also thanked England, Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur and the people who have supported him throughout his career.
He said his road to success had not been easy. Kane spent time on loan at various clubs early on in his career before establishing himself as a regular in the top flight. He has since moved from Tottenham to Bayern Munich, where he continues to score goals and play for major trophies.
He spent many years at Tottenham before a move to Germany in 2023 was a new challenge. He quickly established himself as a key player at Bayern and helped the club to major domestic honors. The Ballon d’Or is another big honor to his career.
England manager Thomas Tuchel also paid tribute to Kane’s win, praising his performances and saying the award was well deserved. Striker was also congratulated by Prince William, patron of the Football Association.
Other big awards were handed out at the London ceremony. Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or for a third time. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal scooped the men’s young talent award and Vicky Lopez won the women’s young talent prize.
Kane’s award is recognition for years of work, steady progress and a remarkable season in front of goal. His success also ends a 25-year wait for England, giving the country another men’s Ballon d’Or winner. The result puts him in the company of players whose scoring, leadership and consistency have been defining features of the season for club and country.