Harry Kane has become the first Englishman in 25 years to win the Ballon d’Or.
The Bayern Munich striker, 33, claimed football’s most prestigious individual prize at a London gala on Monday, beating out Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal in a vote conducted by more than 100 journalists organised by France Football, reports ESPN. His 73 goals across the season propelled him to the honor, making him only the fifth England player ever to receive the award and the first since Michael Owen in 2001.
The evening was not without disorder. All three finalists were bizarrely announced as winners just hours before Kane was officially presented with the trophy, and the ceremony itself began 30 minutes late, starting at 8:30pm rather than the billed 8pm. Mbappé, who finished as runner-up, had earlier become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer this summer with 22 goals total, 10 of them at this year’s tournament. Yamal, the third finalist, had won the World Cup with Spain.
On stage, Kane drew on the location of the ceremony for meaning. “Being in London, it is extra special, it felt like a good omen,” he said. “Thank you to everyone who voted for me, I can imagine it was tough, so thank you.”
The England captain directed much of his gratitude toward his wife, Kate. “To my wife Kate, my best friend. We’ve been through ups and downs. You are my biggest support and I felt like you wanted this more than me,” he shared. “The anxious wait… Here it is, we’ve done it and you always want the best for me. You sacrifice yourself to make me achieve my dreams. This wouldn’t be possible without you and it is something we can celebrate, not me. We’re a team. I can’t wait to celebrate tonight. I love you.”
Kane also used the moment to address aspiring players, reflecting on his own unconventional path. “It’s just the journey. For any young boy or girl who wants to achieve their dream, anything is possible,” he continued. “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 and thank you very much.”
The striker additionally thanked Tottenham, Bayern Munich and England for their roles in his development and success.
The Ballon d’Or stands alongside FIFA’s The Best Award as the most coveted individual recognition in world football. For two decades, the prize had been dominated by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, whose sustained excellence had largely shut out challengers. Kane’s breakthrough ends that era of duopoly for English football and marks a significant shift in the individual honors landscape.
Kane’s season had been historic by multiple measures. Beyond his goal tally, he starred in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich, featured prominently in the Champions League, and led England to the World Cup semifinals. The combination of club and international production proved decisive with the voting panel of journalists.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony was held in London rather than Paris, a relocation that Kane himself suggested carried personal resonance given his English roots and career beginnings.