England captain and Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane has won the prestigious 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or, ending a 25-year drought for English football at the 70th annual awards ceremony staged at the London Palladium.
The 33-year-old striker secured football’s highest individual honor ahead of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, who finished second, and Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, who placed third in the international voting panel of 100 sports journalists.
Kane was presented with the golden trophy by Brazilian football icon Ronaldo Nazário, marking the first time an Englishman has claimed the prize since Michael Owen’s victory in 2001.
The historic coronation followed an extraordinary 2025/2026 campaign during which Kane scored 73 goals across all competitions for club and country. His prolific output helped propel Bayern Munich through dominant domestic and continental runs, while maintaining exceptional form for the England national team.
In addition to taking home the main accolade, Kane was awarded the Gerd Müller Trophy as the world’s top striker for the season, completing a memorable double on home soil in London.
”To win this award here in London, in front of my family and peers, is an absolute dream come true,” Kane said during his acceptance speech on stage. “It has been an unforgettable season with Bayern Munich and England, and I owe this moment to every teammate and coach who supported me along the way.”
In the women’s category, Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas claimed her third Women’s Ballon d’Or trophy following an outstanding campaign with Barcelona prior to her transfer to London City Lionesses.
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