Harry Kane has won the Ballon d'Or at a ceremony held in London, the home of football. The award marked its 70th anniversary and honoured Stanley Matthews, its inaugural winner. Kane said the win was massive for England and that he was proud to put the country back on the map. He thanked his youth coaches, parents and wife, and said he still treats every season as if he were a young player. Michael Owen, a former winner, presented the women's award to Alexia Putellas.
Harry Kane was named the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner at a ceremony held at the Palladium Theatre in London, the first time the award has been presented outside France. Before the event, the Ballon d'Or website mistakenly published articles naming Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe as winner, and the articles were later taken down. The ceremony started 45 minutes late because of London traffic. Crowd members repeatedly yelled and booed during the presentations, mostly in support of Kane, and a photographer shouted at Fabrizio Romano during a live DAZN broadcast.
Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Englishman to take the prize since Michael Owen in 2001. The Bayern Munich forward led his club to a Bundesliga title and scored six goals for England at the World Cup. Alexia Putellas won her third Ballon d'Or Feminin, after scoring 24 goals and providing 13 assists in her final season with Barcelona. The ceremony was held at the London Palladium on Monday night, with the men's award contested by Kane and Lamine Yamal.
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Harry Kane has been named the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner, becoming the first English player to take the award since Michael Owen in 2001. The award was presented at the Palladium Theatre in London. Kane, 33, scored 64 goals in 60 matches for club and country. He scored 36 Bundesliga goals and 14 Champions League goals as Bayern Munich reached the semifinals. At the World Cup he scored twice against DR Congo and from the penalty spot against Mexico.
Harry Kane has been named the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or winner at a gala held at the Palladium Theatre in London. He becomes the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001. Alexia Putellas won the women's award, her third. It was the first time the ceremony was held outside France, marking 70 years since Stanley Matthews, the first winner, received the trophy. Lamine Yamal was named the Kopa Trophy winner for the men's young player category.
The 2026 Ballon d'Or will be awarded in London on October 24, the first time the ceremony has been held outside France. Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal are among the favourites. Kane scored more than twice as many goals as Yamal over the 2025/26 season, playing for Bayern Munich and England. Yamal produced far more assists for Barcelona and Spain. Both players won their domestic league titles, and Yamal also won the FIFA World Cup with Spain.
