Kane wins 2026 Ballon d'Or with 73-goal season, ending England's 25-year wait

Harry Kane claimed the 2026 Ballon d’Or at London Palladium on Monday, beating Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé to become the first Englishman to win world football’s most prestigious individual prize since Michael Owen in 2001. The Bayern Munich striker was rewarded for a season in which he scored 73 goals for club and country.

Kane, 33, won the German league and cup double with Bayern and helped steer the club to the Champions League semi-finals, where they were eliminated by eventual winners PSG. He then led England to the World Cup semi-finals, where they lost to Argentina, before securing bronze with a victory over France in the third-place play-off — England’s best World Cup finish since 1966.

In an emotional acceptance speech, Kane thanked his Bayern team-mates, singling out Michael Olise, Dayot Upamecano, Luis Diaz and Lennart Karl, before paying tribute to manager Vincent Kompany, who was absent due to illness. “Since I’ve been with you, I’ve improved as a player, no doubt, improved as a person, as a leader, and that’s thanks to your leadership,” Kane said.

Kane also acknowledged the difficulty of the vote, telling the audience: “I can imagine it was really tough this year. Some of the incredible players I was up against, some of my team-mates and world-class players in the room tonight.”

The striker spent 14 years at Tottenham before joining Bayern Munich in 2023, having never won a major trophy at club level in England. The Ballon d’Or, awarded at a ceremony held in London for the first time, represents the crowning achievement of a career that has seen him become England’s all-time leading scorer.

Kane closed his speech by dedicating the award to his family, who were present at the Palladium, and to the coaches and teammates who have shaped his career at every level.