After a simply stratospheric 2025-2026 season, Harry Kane has secured his place in the pantheon of world football. The England striker was named the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner, finishing ahead of Frenchman Kylian Mbappe (2nd) and Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal (3rd) on the podium.
By lifting the most prestigious individual trophy, Harry Kane becomes the fifth English player in history to win the Ballon d’Or. He ends a 25-year drought for British football and joins an elite group of legends: Sir Stanley Matthews (1956), Sir Bobby Charlton (1966), Kevin Keegan (1978, 1979), Michael Owen (2001) and now Harry Kane (2026).
Harry Kane’s 2025-2026 season was defined by unprecedented consistency and clinical finishing in the modern game: 61 goals and 7 assists in 51 matches for Bayern Munich, plus 11 goals and 3 assists for England. The Englishman finished as the Bundesliga’s top scorer (36 goals), was the second-highest scorer in the Champions League (14 goals) and won the European Golden Shoe.
On receiving the Ballon d’Or, Kane said: “Being in London is special, thank you to everyone who voted for me; I’m sure it was tough to pick.
“Congratulations to all the winners and nominees; it’s a real showing of what hard work and determination can do.”
“Without you guys (his Bayern Munich team-mates) and the rest of the team, it wouldn’t be possible; the way you guys push me, the way we compete. So thank you very much.”