PHOTOS: Kane ends England’s 25-year wait for the Ballon d’Or

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Englishman to claim football’s most prestigious individual award since Michael Owen in 2001.

The 33-year-old England captain received the honour at the 70th edition of the awards ceremony at London’s Palladium Theatre on Monday, 26 October, beating Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona star Lamine Yamal to the prize.

Kane becomes the fifth Englishman to win the award, following Stanley Matthews in 1956, Bobby Charlton in 1966, Kevin Keegan in 1978 and 1979, and Owen in 2001.

His triumph follows an outstanding 2025-26 campaign in which he scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich and added 12 goals for England, taking his overall tally to 73 goals in 65 matches.

Kane’s remarkable scoring record helped Bayern secure domestic silverware, while his performances for England further strengthened his credentials for the individual accolade.

He scored 36 goals in the Bundesliga to finish as the competition’s leading scorer, while his 14 goals in the UEFA Champions League helped Bayern reach the semi-finals.

Kane also netted 10 times in the German Cup, including a hat-trick in the final against Stuttgart.

The striker also made a significant contribution to England’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring six goals as the Three Lions finished third, their best result since winning the tournament in 1966.

Speaking after receiving the award, Kane expressed pride in his achievement, describing the previous season as the best of his career and acknowledging the contribution of his teammates, coaches and support network.

England manager Thomas Tuchel congratulated the striker, praising his performances and describing the recognition as a special moment for the national team.

Kane’s victory also marks a significant moment for Bayern Munich.

He becomes the club’s first Ballon d’Or winner since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claimed the award in 1981, ending a 45-year wait for the German giants.

Mbappe finished second in the voting, with Yamal taking third place.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri and Lionel Messi completed the top five rankings.

Kane’s achievement is particularly notable because he had never previously finished higher than 10th in the Ballon d’Or rankings.

His combination of individual excellence, consistency and international impact ultimately delivered football’s most coveted individual honour.

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