Breaking: Harry Kane wins the 2026 Ballon d'Or, becoming the first English player in 25 years.
On 27 October 2026, Harry Kane, the star striker of Bayern Munich, claimed the Ballon d'Or 2026 as the best player of the year, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to win the prestigious award since Michael Owen in 2001.
The 33-year-old forward from Bayern Munich became the fifth English Lion to receive this honor, following legends like Sir Stanley Matthews (1956), Sir Bobby Charlton (1966), and Kevin Keegan (1978, 1979).
Other players from the United Kingdom who have won this award include only Denis Law (Scotland - 1964) and George Best (Northern Ireland - 1968).
Harry Kane secured the 2026 Ballon d'Or ahead of two contenders: Kylian Mbappé, the French striker from Real Madrid who finished second, and Lamine Yamal, the Barcelona winger who won the 2026 World Cup with Spain, who placed third.
Kane’s outstanding performance that earned him this award includes scoring 61 goals in 51 matches for Bayern Munich last season, setting the highest single-season goal record in the club’s history.
Including his England national team contributions, Kane scored 73 goals and provided 8 assists in 65 matches over the past year, leading the Lions to the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup and finishing in third place.