Harry Kane has been crowned the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to lift the prestigious award.
At a star-studded ceremony at the London Palladium, Kane beat competition from Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé after a scintillating season for club and country.
A record-breaking season
The Bayern Munich and England forward scored 73 goals in all competitions last season and has started the current campaign in blistering form with 16 goals and nine assists. Kane also lifted the European Golden Shoe, which is presented to the top league goalscorer across the top divisions of European national leagues, and helped guide Bayern to a domestic double.
Kane becomes the first Englishman since Michael Owen in 2001 to win the Ballon d’Or. He captained the Three Lions to the World Cup semi-finals over the summer.
Bayern make history
The 33-year-old is also the first Bayern Munich player to win the award in 45 years, since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981. He is the fourth Bayern winner, joining Gerd Müller and Franz Beckenbauer.
A large Bayern delegation attended The Palladium, with Michael Olise, Luis Díaz, Dayot Upamecano and teenage sensation Lennart Karl among the travelling squad. Bayern president Herbert Hainer and chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen were also in attendance, but sporting director Max Eberl was forced to stay behind due to a cold.
Website publishes early result
The Ballon d’Or website had earlier released an article crowning Kane the winner before swiftly removing it. The site also published similar articles naming Yamal, Mbappé and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi as the winner.