Harry Kane Wins 2026 Ballon d'Or in London Ceremony
The Bayern Munich striker becomes the first English player to claim the prestigious award in 25 years.
Harry Kane has been awarded the 2026 Ballon d'Or, marking the first time an English player has received the honor in a quarter-century. The Bayern Munich forward was presented with the trophy during a ceremony held at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, 2026. Kane, who netted 73 goals across all competitions for his club and country during the previous season, follows in the footsteps of Michael Owen, the last Englishman to win the award in 2001.
The event, which celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d'Or, was hosted by sports broadcaster Kate Scott and former French international Thierry Henry. This marked the first time the prestigious ceremony has been held in England. Kate Scott, known for her extensive international broadcasting career and her marriage to boxing trainer Malik Scott, co-presented the evening as the football world gathered to honor the season's top performers.
The lead-up to the announcement was marked by technical confusion. Hours before the official reveal, the Ballon d'Or website published three separate articles that incorrectly named Kane, Kylian Mbappe, and Lamine Yamal as the winner. The articles were subsequently removed, and the ceremony itself faced a 45-minute delay due to heavy traffic in London before Kane was officially confirmed as the recipient.
Upon receiving the award, an emotional Kane expressed his gratitude to France Football and the voters. "Wow, I'm almost speechless," he said on stage. "I hope my journey, it wasn't straightforward, I didn't go straight to the top, I had to experience a lot of loan moves and fight my way to get to where I am now. I hope that can give you inspiration." He also credited his move from Tottenham to Bayern Munich as a pivotal factor in his success, noting that the transfer provided him with the platform to compete for major honors.
Tributes arrived from across the football community following the announcement. England head coach Thomas Tuchel praised Kane's consistency and leadership, stating that he had long run out of superlatives to describe the striker's performances. Prince William, patron of the Football Association, also offered his congratulations via social media, calling Kane a "brilliant captain" and a "remarkable player."
The 2026 rankings saw Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe finish in second place, while Barcelona's Lamine Yamal secured the third spot. The ceremony also recognized other significant achievements in the sport, including Alexia Putellas winning the Women's Ballon d'Or and Luis de la Fuente being named the Men's Coach of the Year. Bukayo Saka was honored with the Socrates Award for his humanitarian efforts, rounding out a night that highlighted both individual brilliance and collective success in professional football.