LONDON, 27 Oct. - (ANA) - Harry Kane became first Englishman in 25 years to win men’s Ballon d’Or with Spain’s Alexia Putellas securing the women’s award for a third time

Harry Kane is the Ballon d’Or winner for 2026, the first Englishman to win football’s most prestigious individual trophy in 25 years.

 

The best footballer in the world over the past year was crowned there, with the prolific Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane becoming the first Englishman to win this coveted title since Michael Owen in 2001. 

 

But Kane is also a fully deserving winner of football’s ultimate gong. The trophy, organised by magazine France Football (owned by L’Équipe Group), is awarded by a vote of journalists and administrators across the footballing super-scape. For Kane, it is reward for a year during which he has won the European Golden Boot, played a major role in Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga title, captained England to a World Cup semi-final, and above all shown himself to be a wonderfully humble superstar player.

 

He was mistakenly announced as one of the winners in a huge blunder ahead of the ceremony, with an article prematurely published on the official Ballon d’Or website. After scooping the award officially on Monday night, having faced some mighty stiff competition with Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal close behind him. 

 

Kane wins men's Ballon d'Or Putellas claims women's prize Wembley lit up to honour Kane.

 

The Bayern Munich striker is already an MBE, and bookmakers make it 4/6 for his award to be upgraded to an OBE or CBE in the 2027 New Year’s Honours List. Kane is also priced at 20/1 to be knighted next year, despite still being an active player. 

 

Editor-in-chief of France Football, the organisers of the Ballon d’Or, Vincent Garcia has shed light how a late surge of votes for Harry Kane pushed the England striker over the line to win. Kane became the fifth Englishman to win the prestigious award, and the first in 25 years, with Michael Owen the last England international to win the Ballon d’Or in 2001.

 

The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or was said to be the most closely fought in years as there were no standout performers winning the major tournaments of the year - one of the deciding criteria for Ballon d’Or journalists. While the winner is announced on the night of the Ballon d’Or gala, votes are received over the span of multiple weeks.

 

Kane had been the bookies’ favourite for some time, though Lamine Yamal was briefly ahead in the markets and Kylian Mbappe saw a late surge in the days and hours leading up to the London ceremony. - (ANA) - 

 

AB/ANA/27 October 2026 - - -