Rabat – Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has won the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or, claiming the prestigious award for the first time in his career during Monday’s ceremony at the London Palladium Theatre.
The 33-year-old England captain received the honor following an outstanding 2025-26 season, beating competition from Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe.
Kane becomes the first English footballer to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001, ending a 25-year wait for England.
He also joins an exclusive group of English winners that includes Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.
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The achievement marks another milestone in Kane’s career, following years of individual success in the Premier League and Bundesliga.
Exceptional season earns Kane football’s top prize
Kane delivered one of the most prolific campaigns of his career, scoring 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich across all competitions.
His performances helped the German club secure the Bundesliga title and German Cup, while Bayern also reached the Champions League semi-finals before losing to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
The England international finished the season with 73 goals for club and country, establishing himself among the most prolific forwards in world football.
Kane also played a major role in England’s run to the 2026 World Cup semi-finals, scoring six goals during the tournament.
His performances earned him the European Golden Shoe, recognizing him as the continent’s leading league goalscorer.
The latest recognition also makes Kane the first Bayern Munich player to win the Ballon d’Or since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.
A double celebration in London
Earlier in the ceremony, Kane received the Men’s Striker of the Year award, recognizing his remarkable goalscoring achievements.
“This has been the best season of my career,” Kane said while accepting the striker’s award.
The Ballon d’Or triumph adds the most prestigious individual honor in football to his growing collection of achievements.
Kane succeeds Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele, who won the award in 2025 following the French club’s historic Champions League triumph.
The 2026 ceremony also marked the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or, which was first awarded to England’s Stanley Matthews in 1956.
