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England captain Harry Kane won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time on Monday, becoming the first English player to receive the prestigious football award since 2001. The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker was honored at a ceremony at the London Palladium after scoring 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country last season.
Record-Breaking Season for Club and Country
The Ballon d’Or, awarded by French magazine France Football, is one of football’s most prestigious individual honors, recognizing the world’s best players. The last English player to win the award was former Liverpool striker Michael Owen, who claimed the prize 25 years ago.
Kane’s remarkable goalscoring record helped Bayern Munich secure a German league and cup double last season. The former Tottenham Hotspur forward also led England to the World Cup semifinals, marking the country’s best finish in the tournament since winning it in 1966.
Furthermore, Kane finished as the Bundesliga’s leading scorer for three consecutive seasons and served as Europe’s top club goalscorer during the 2025-26 campaign.
Gratitude and Career Reflections
At Monday’s ceremony, as reported by Deutsche Welle: DW.com – Top Stories, Kane thanked his Bayern Munich teammates for their support. He acknowledged that his achievements would not be possible without them and the way they push and compete with him.
Kane also paid tribute to his former club Tottenham Hotspur, which he joined at the age of 11, as well as his England teammates and family. He expressed special gratitude to his wife Kate, calling her his best friend and biggest support.
Reflecting on his career, Kane encouraged young footballers to pursue their ambitions despite setbacks, noting that his own journey was not straightforward and involved many loan moves before reaching the top.
Kane faced strong competition from Barcelona’s Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid’s French forward Kylian Mbappe. He joins Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan, and Owen among the English players to have won the award.
Other Major Award Winners
Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas claimed the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time in her career, having previously won the award in 2021 and 2022. The 32-year-old was recognized after a successful season with Barcelona, winning the treble and scoring 21 goals across all competitions while also contributing heavily to a Champions League triumph.
Putellas joined English club London City Lionesses in July after spending 14 years at Barcelona. Her victory ended a run of three consecutive Ballon d’Or wins by fellow Spaniard Aitana Bonmati.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best young male player for the third consecutive year, while his teammate Vicky Lopez claimed the women’s award for the second year running. Barcelona coach Pere Romeu was named women’s coach of the year, and Spain manager Luis de la Fuente won the men’s coaching award.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon received the men’s Yashin Trophy, with Cata Coll winning the women’s equivalent. Finally, Barcelona was named women’s club of the year, while Paris Saint-Germain took the men’s award.
