England captain Harry Kane has won the men's Ballon d'Or for the first time, becoming the first English winner of football's top individual prize since Michael Owen in 2001. The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker was named winner at a ceremony at the London Palladium on Monday 26 October 2026, beating Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal.

A 73-goal season

Kane scored 73 goals in 65 matches for club and country in the 2025-26 season, including 36 Bundesliga goals as Bayern won the German league title and 14 goals in 13 Champions League matches. He also scored six goals for England as the Three Lions finished third at the 2026 World Cup. He becomes the fifth English winner overall, after Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen, and the first Bayern player to win it since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981. He also collected the Gerd Müller Trophy for best striker.

Putellas wins women's award again

Alexia Putellas won the women's Ballon d'Or for a third time, after captaining Barcelona Femení to a quadruple of the league title, two domestic cups and the Women's Champions League before signing for London City Lionesses in the summer. Kane, emotional on stage in his home city, said winning in London made it extra special and hoped his journey — through loan spells before reaching the top — could inspire young players.

Sources: Sky Sports; USA Today; CNN. The Ballon d'Or is voted on by journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings.