Harry Kane wins 2026 Ballon d'Or at London ceremony
The England striker claimed the award for the first time, ending a nine-year wait that began after a loss in 2017.
By Malik Salazar ·
Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or on Monday night at the London Palladium, marking the first time an Englishman has claimed the prize since 2001. The 33-year-old forward received the award after a voting process that included one journalist from each of FIFA's top 100 ranked nations.
Kane's victory follows a turbulent week that included a technical error on the official Ballon d'Or website. Less than three hours before the ceremony started, the site briefly listed Kane, Kylian Mbappé, and Lamine Yamal as the 2026 winner. The profiles were quickly removed, and the event was delayed by 45 minutes without an official explanation.
The striker had previously described the wait for the announcement as stressful for himself and his family. He sat next to Lamine Yamal during the show, while last year's winner, Rodri, sat one seat away. Kane also won the Gerd Müller Award, which recognizes the top goal scorer in the men's game. He finished the voting period with 73 goals in 65 matches.
Kane thanked Tottenham Hotspur on stage, stating he would not be where he is without them. He noted that playing in London made the moment feel extra special. The award completes a strong period for the player, who joined Bayern Munich in 2023 for a fee of 120 million euros.
Since moving to Germany, Kane has scored 158 goals in 156 matches. During the voting window, which covered August 2025 to the end of the World Cup in July, he won the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal, and the German Supercup. He also led England to a third-place finish at the World Cup, scoring six goals in the tournament.
The win breaks a 25-year drought for English players. Michael Owen was the last English winner in 2001. Kane finished 10th in the 2024 vote, his best previous placement. He had been on the shortlist for the 2017 The Best FIFA Football Awards but finished 24th, a result that left him standing near the exit of the same venue he now celebrates in.
Kane has scored 280 goals in 435 appearances for Tottenham. He currently holds the record for most goals by an England men's international, surpassing Wayne Rooney. He is expected to break Peter Shilton's record for most caps next month.
