Kane pips Mbappe to Ballon d'Or by fewer than 41 points in one of the closest votes in modern history

Harry Kane was named the world’s best footballer at the Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium, edging Kylian Mbappe by fewer than 41 points in one of the closest votes since the award’s voting process was revamped in 2024. The Bayern Munich and England striker becomes the first Three Lions player to lift the prize in 25 years.

According to a report citing Vincent Garcia, editor-in-chief of France Football — the Ballon d’Or’s organising publication — Mbappe actually led the rankings for much of the voting period. The margin at the finish line, however, was razor-thin.

Two factors are said to have ultimately swung the award in Kane’s favour. The first was his goal tally: Kane scored 73 goals across the season, 15 more than Mbappe’s 58. The second was team performance. Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga and reached the Champions League semi-finals, while Mbappe’s Real Madrid were eliminated from the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Bayern themselves and finished the season without a trophy for the second consecutive year since the Frenchman’s arrival.

Both players reached the World Cup semi-finals, with Mbappe claiming the Golden Boot. Off the pitch, Mbappe and Lamine Yamal were notably more vocal in campaigning for the award. Mbappe pledged to dedicate the prize to Africa, while Yamal publicly dismissed Kane’s candidacy, saying: “For me, Mbappe and I are the two best in the world.” Kane, by contrast, said in a recent interview that he “doesn’t like to talk about” himself.

Yamal, the teenage Spanish winger, finished third at the ceremony and claimed a third consecutive Kopa Trophy. Spain midfielder Rodri came fourth, with eight-time winner Lionel Messi rounding out the top five.

Kane is only the fifth Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or, joining Stanley Matthews (1956), Bobby Charlton (1966), Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) and Michael Owen (2001).