England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has been awarded the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or, becoming the first English footballer to claim the sport’s most prestigious individual honor since Michael Owen in 2001. The milestone victory was confirmed at the 70th annual Ballon d’Or ceremony, held on the evening of Monday, October 26, 2026. In a departure from traditional custom, France Football hosted the star-studded gala at the historic London Palladium, marking the first time in the award’s seven-decade history that the presentation took place outside of Paris.
Broadcaster Kate Scott and French football icon Thierry Henry shared hosting duties for the evening, guiding the audience through a night that ultimately belonged to England’s star forward. Kane’s triumph comes on the heels of a monumental 2025/26 campaign in which he registered an astounding 73 goals across all competitions for club and country. The 33-year-old forward led Bayern Munich to domestic and European success while also guiding England to a third-place finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where his six-goal tally earned him the Golden Boot.
Taking the stage to accept the iconic golden trophy, an emotional Kane reflected on the significance of receiving the award on home soil. He expressed that winning the Ballon d’Or in London, surrounded by his family, friends, and country, was a moment he could only have dreamed of as a boy, adding that the trophy belonged as much to his teammates at Bayern Munich and England as it did to him for pushing every limit throughout the season. Tributes from the footballing world quickly followed.
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany lauded his forward’s dual impact, describing Kane as far more than an elite goalscorer, but a leader who elevates everyone on the pitch by operating as a playmaker while delivering an unprecedented 73-goal season. England head coach Thomas Tuchel echoed those sentiments, noting that English football had waited 25 years for another Ballon d’Or winner and describing Kane’s discipline, humility, and consistency over the past decade as the driving forces that made the moment inevitable.
Kane’s standout individual campaign also secured him the Gerd Müller Trophy as the world’s top striker for the second time in his career, edging out top contenders including Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé, Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. The evening celebrated excellence across the broader global game as well. Spain and Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas collected her third Women’s Ballon d’Or, sharing the spotlight with fellow Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, who picked up the Kopa Trophy for the world’s best young male talent.
Spain’s international success was further highlighted by Vicky López capturing the women’s Kopa Trophy, Athletic Bilbao’s Unai Simón claiming the Yashin Trophy for top goalkeeper, and national team head coach Luis de la Fuente being named Men’s Coach of the Year. Meanwhile, Arsenal and England winger Bukayo Saka was recognised with the Sócrates Award for his extensive humanitarian work.
