Harry Kane has become the first English winner of the Ballon d’Or in 25 years after being honoured at a ceremony in London.
Michael Owen was the last player from England to receive the prestigious individual accolade in 2001, but Kane’s incredible 73-goal haul last season for club and country earned him the award from French magazine France Football.
Bayern Munich forward Kane was a popular winner in the capital and has followed in the footsteps of Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen as a Ballon d’Or winner from England.
Saturday 31st October 5:20pm
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Kane beat Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal to the award.
“Wow, I’m almost speechless,” an emotional Kane said on stage. “First of all, thanks again to France Football and the Ballon d’Or for this amazing event. Being in London, it is extra special; it felt like a good omen.
“Thank you to everyone for voting for me. I can imagine it was very tough. Thank you to everyone that voted for me.”
There was chaos just hours before the ceremony as the Ballon d’Or website published three separate articles naming Kane, Lamine Yamal and Mbappe as the winner of the 2026 men’s award.
Then, in a further twist, the ceremony was delayed by 45 minutes to an 8.45pm start due to the London traffic.
More to follow…
Men’s 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings in full…
1) Harry Kane – Bayern Munich & England
2) Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid & France
3) Lamine Yamal – Barcelona – Spain
4) Rodri – Man City/Barcelona & Spain
5) Lionel Messi – Inter Miami & Argentina
6) Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – PSG & Georgia
7) Ousmane Dembele – PSG & France
8) Erling Haaland – Man City & Norway
9) Michael Olise – Bayern Munich & France
10) Fabian Ruiz – PSG & Spain
11) Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid & England
12) Pau Cubarsi – Barcelona & Spain
13) Achraf Hakimi – PSG & Morocco
14) Vitinha – PSG & Portugal
15) Declan Rice – Arsenal & England
16) Ferran Torres – Barcelona/PSG & Spain
17) Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid & Brazil
18) Marc Cucurella – Chelsea/Real Madrid & Spain
19) Joao Neves – PSG & Portugal
20) Willian Pacho – PSG & Ecuador
21) Gabriel – Arsenal & Brazil
22) Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan & Argentina
23) Nuno Mendes – PSG & Portugal
24) Luis Diaz – Bayern Munich & Colombia
25) Marquinhos – PSG & Brazil
26) Dayot Upamecano – Bayern Munich & France
27) Bruno Fernandes – Man Utd & Portugal
28) Julian Quinones – Al Qadsiah & Mexico
=29) William Saliba – Arsenal & France
=29) Sadio Mane – Al Nassr & Senegal
The 2026 Ballon d’Or winners in full…
Men’s Ballon d’Or – Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)
Women’s Ballon d’Or – Alexia Putellas (London City Lionesses/Barcelona & Spain)
Men’s Coach of the Year – Luis de la Fuente (Spain)
Women’s Coach of the Year – Pere Romeu (Barcelona)
Men’s Young Talent of the Year – Lamine Yamal (Barcelona & Spain)
Women’s Young Talent of the Year – Vicky Lopez (Barcelona & Spain)
Men’s Striker of the Year – Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)
Women’s Striker of the Year – Charlyn Corral (CF Pachuca & Mexico)
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Unai Simon (Athletic Club & Spain)
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Cata Coll (Barcelona & Spain)
Men’s Club of the Year – Paris Saint-Germain
Women’s Club of the Year – Barcelona
Socrates Award (for humanitarian work) – Bukayo Saka (Arsenal & England)
Chaos before Kane was announced as winner
Before Kane’s win was announced, the Ballon d’Or website had published three separate articles naming Kane, Lamine Yamal and Mbappe as the winner of the 2026 men’s award just hours before the ceremony.
The apparent leaks confirmed the top three for the award as chaos descended when a link emerged announcing England captain Kane had received the honour.
“A record-breaking welter of league and cup goals in 2025/26 has propelled Harry Kane to Ballon d’Or success,” read the story on the official website of the prestigious France Football prize.
However, further links were subsequently found to articles hailing Mbappe and Lamine Yamal as victors.
All three versions were then taken down before Kane was confirmed to be the winner.
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