Entertainment
Kane Ends England’s 25-Year Wait, Wins Ballon d’Or
since former Liverpool forward Michael Owen received the award in 2001.
England captain 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 Bayern Munich striker was announced as the winner at Monday’s ceremony in London, finishing ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona’s teenage sensation, Lamine Yamal.
Kane’s triumph ends England’s long wait for another men’s winner since former Liverpool forward Michael Owen received the award in 2001.
The 33-year-old becomes the fifth Englishman to win the prize, following Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.
His victory followed an outstanding 2025/26 campaign in which he scored 73 goals for club and country, combining remarkable individual numbers with domestic success and significant contributions to England’s international campaign.
Kane reportedly scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern and another 12 for England in 14 matches, taking his overall tally to 73 goals in 65 appearances.
His performances helped Bayern secure the Bundesliga title, the German Cup and the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. He also finished as the Bundesliga’s leading scorer for the third consecutive season.
In the Champions League, Kane scored 14 goals as Bayern reached the semi-finals before their European campaign ended.
His contribution to England’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup further strengthened his credentials, with the striker scoring six goals as the Three Lions reached the semi-finals and finished third.
Kane’s achievement marks a major milestone in a career that began at Tottenham Hotspur, where he established himself as one of the Premier League’s most prolific forwards but struggled to win major team honours.
His move to Bayern in 2023 offered a fresh opportunity to combine his goalscoring record with success at one of Europe’s most decorated clubs.
The Ballon d’Or victory now provides individual recognition for that transition.
Mbappe finished second in the voting, with Yamal third. Rodri placed fourth, while Lionel Messi finished fifth.
The award, organised by France Football in partnership with UEFA, recognises individual performances, team achievements and a player’s overall contribution during the assessment period.
For Kane, the honour represents the culmination of a season in which goalscoring consistency, domestic trophies and international performances combined to deliver football’s highest individual recognition.
His victory also restores England to the top of the men’s Ballon d’Or standings for the first time since Owen’s success a quarter-century ago.
