Harry Kane Wins 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or in London: Ends England’s 25-Year Wait

27th October 2026, Kathmandu

England captain Harry Kane and Spanish star Alexia Putellas took center stage at the London Palladium as they were awarded the 2026 Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or trophies.

Kane’s landmark victory ends a 25-year drought for English football, while Putellas etched her name further into history by capturing her third individual golden ball.

Harry Kane Ends 25-Year Wait for England

Harry Kane capped off an extraordinary 2025–26 campaign by becoming the first Englishman to win the Men’s Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.

The Bayern Munich forward edged out Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal to claim football’s highest individual accolade.

Kane’s Record-Breaking 2025–26 Season

73 Total Goals: Scored 73 goals and delivered 8 assists across all competitions for Bayern Munich and England.

Domestic Treble: Led Bayern Munich to victory in the German Bundesliga, German Cup (DFB-Pokal), and Franz Beckenbauer Supercup.

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Champions League Top Scorer: Fired 14 goals in 13 matches during Bayern’s run to the European semi-finals.

Double Trophy Night: Became the first player in history to walk away with both the Ballon d’Or and the Gerd Müller Trophy on the same evening.

Alexia Putellas Claims Third Women’s Ballon d’Or

In the women’s category, Alexia Putellas claimed her third Women’s Ballon d’Or title, following her previous victories in 2021 and 2022.

Putellas led Barcelona Femení to a historic quadruple—including their fourth UEFA Women’s Champions League title—recording 26 goals and 15 assists during the season before making her summer transfer to the London City Lionesses.

Putellas now joins her former Barcelona teammate Aitana Bonmatí as one of only two players to win the Women’s Ballon d’Or three times.

2026 Ballon d’Or Award Winners Summary

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