Harry Kane won the men’s Ballon d’Or 2026, becoming the first English footballer in 25 years to receive the prestigious individual award. The Bayern Munich striker was announced as the winner at the 70th edition of the ceremony, held at the London Palladium on Monday.
ended England’s long wait for the men’s , with Michael Owen being the last Englishman to win the award in 2001. The 33-year-old finished ahead of France captain Kylian Mbappe, who secured second place, while Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal completed the top three.
Harry Kane’s award followed a prolific 2025-26 campaign for Bayern Munich. He scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for the German club, helping them secure a domestic league and cup double.
His tally across club and international football stood at 73 goals, including six at the 2026 , where reached the semi-finals.
Spain midfielder Rodri finished fourth, ahead of Lionel Messi, who finished fifth. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, Erling Haaland, Michael Olise and Fabian Ruiz completed the top 10.
The women’s Ballon d’Or went to Spain international Alexia Putellas, who collected the honour for the third time. Her victory added another major individual accolade to a season in which Barcelona enjoyed considerable success.
Barcelona and Spain were among the biggest beneficiaries of the ceremony, with several players and coaches collecting individual honours.
Yamal won the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award, while Barcelona teammate Vicky Lopez received the corresponding women’s honour. Lopez retained the award for a second consecutive season.
Spain’s World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente was named Men’s Coach of the Year. Barcelona manager Pere Romeu collected the Women’s Coach of the Year award.
Meanwhile, Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon won the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, with Barcelona’s Cata Coll receiving the women’s equivalent.
Paris Saint-Germain were named Men’s Club of the Year, while Barcelona won the Women’s Club of the Year award. Arsenal and England winger Bukayo Saka received the Socrates Award for his humanitarian initiatives.
The 2026 ceremony also marked the first time the awards were hosted in London, moving away from their traditional Paris setting.
