Harry Kane wins Ballon d’Or in 2026: England’s first since 2001

Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d’Or at the London Palladium, ending England’s 25-year wait for a winner. Alexia Putellas won the women’s award for the third time.

Harry Kane is the winner of the Ballon d’Or in 2026. The Bayern Munich and England striker was named the best men’s player in the world, beating Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe to the award at his 70th birthday party at the London Palladium on Monday night.

Kane is the first Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001, and only the fifth in history. The moment came at a ceremony in London in honor of Stanley Matthews, England’s first winner in 1956. The England captain also won the men’s striker of the year award as top scorer.

Alexia Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or, adding her third title to her tally in 2021 and 2022.

Harry Kane ends England’s 25-year wait

Kane went into the night as the bookies’ favorite after beating Yamal in betting a few weeks before the ceremony. Even so, a late surge for Mbappe suggested the vote could be tight and there was no guarantee until Owen read the name.

It was a big night for Kane in more than one category. Before the main prize, he collected the Gerd Muller Trophy, the Male Striker of the Year award, which goes to the top scorer in all competitive matches during the voting season. Accepting this, he said:

“This has been the best season of my career.”

Harry Kane accepts the Male Striker of the Year award

Kane also paid tribute to Tottenham Hotspur, where he came through the academy and spent the first part of his career.

“I also want to thank Tottenham Hotspur. Without Tottenham, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I was there since I was 11 years old. (With all the management, coaches) you allowed me to live my dreams. So, without doubt, without all those moments, all the ups and downs, I want to thank me today on this journey. To Tottenham Hotspur.”

Harry Kane on stage at the London Palladium

For a player whose career has been long without individual record-breaking major trophies, the Ballon d’Or is the clearest acknowledgment that his move to Germany has paid off.

First Bundesliga winner in 30 years

Kane’s victory also ends a long drought for German football. He is the first player in the Bundesliga to win the award since Borussia Dortmund’s Matthias Sammer in 1996 and the first Bayern Munich player since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.

Alexia Putellas won the 3rd Women’s Ballon d’Or

Putellas was the clear favorite for the women’s award and was duly presented. His third win makes the Spanish midfielder, who moved from Barcelona to London City Lionesses, the most decorated player in the award’s short history. This is his first win since 2022.

Arsenal and England striker Alessia Russo is in the top 10 of women, and Manchester City player Alex Greenwood is in 26th place.

Ballon d’Or 2026: the winner of every award

Spanish players and coaches dominated the individual awards, taking home seven of the 11 individual awards. Barcelona’s influence has spread especially to the women’s categories.

Bukayo Saka’s Socrates Award for humanitarian and philanthropic work means England provide two winners on the night. Yamal again had to settle for the Young Talent award, so the record of no teenager winning the main prize survived.

Ballon d’Or 2026 men’s rankings

Kane topped the top 10, which also included Mbappe, Yamal, owner Ousmane Dembele, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi. The exact placings from second to 10th had not been confirmed at the time of publication, so the rest of the top 10 is listed in alphabetical order.

Positions from 11 to 30

Vinicius Junior, who was second in 2024, fell to 17th place. Jude Bellingham missed the top 10 in 11th and Declan Rice was the third Englishman on the list in 15th. “Manchester United” captain Bruno Fernandes finished the competition on the 27th place.

Women’s Golden ball 2026 ranking

Putellas topped the top 10, which included four Barcelona players. As with the men’s list, the second through 10th positions were not confirmed at the time of publication.

England Ballon d’Or winners

Kane joins an elite group of English winners and is the seventh British player to lift the Ballon d’Or.

Kane follows Keegan as only the second Englishman to win the award while playing abroad. Keegan, who died in July, also lived in Germany.

A night of firsts at the London Palladium

The 70th Ballon d’Or was the first award held in London. Kate Scott and Thierry Henry hosted and kick-off was delayed as traffic in the capital held up some players and visitors.

The build was not without drama. Earlier in the day, the official Ballon d’Or website briefly published articles naming Kane as the winner, alongside similar pieces for Mbappe and Yamal. They were quickly dismantled and organizers said they were prepared for any possible outcome.

Other awards of the night bear names from football history. The goalkeeper award was originally named after Lev Yashin, the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or, and the coaching award was named after Johan Cruyff. The Saka Award is named after Brazil’s captain Socrates. For more on the players who have shaped 70 years of the award, see legendary player profiles.