Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has won the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to claim football’s most prestigious individual award.
The England captain received the honour at the 70th edition of the ceremony at the London Palladium on Monday, capping a remarkable 2025–26 season for club and country.
Kane scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich during the campaign, playing a key role in the German club’s domestic league and cup double. His overall tally, including international fixtures, rose to 73 goals.
The 33-year-old also made his mark on the international stage, scoring six goals at the World Cup as England progressed to the semi-finals.
His triumph ends a long wait for an English winner of the award. Michael Owen was the last English player to claim the men’s Ballon d’Or, winning it in 2001.
Kane’s award also adds another milestone to a career defined by prolific goalscoring, following years of individual success and his move to Bayern Munich.
Before the main award was announced, Kane had already won the men’s Striker of the Year prize at Monday’s ceremony.
The Ballon d’Or is awarded annually to recognise outstanding individual performances in football, with sports journalists voting on the shortlisted nominees.