England captain Harry Kane won the Ballon d’Or for the first time Tuesday, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to claim football’s top individual honor, while Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the women’s award for a third time.
Kane, the 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker, finished ahead of France and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, with Spain and Barcelona star Lamine Yamal placing third.
Kane scored 73 goals for club and country during the 2025-26 campaign, including 61 for Bayern. He helped Bayern retain the Bundesliga title and finished as the German league’s leading scorer for a third consecutive season.
The victory made Kane the first Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001 and the fifth English player to receive the award.
Kane also received the men’s Gerd Müller Trophy, recognizing the season’s leading striker. Mexico and Pachuca forward Charlyn Corral won the women’s award.
Putellas claimed the Women’s Ballon d’Or for a third time after helping Barcelona to a successful season before joining London City Lionesses. Her victory followed previous Ballon d’Or wins in 2021 and 2022.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal won the men’s Kopa Trophy for young players for a third consecutive year, while Barcelona’s Vicky López took the women’s award.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón won the men’s Yashin Trophy as the top goalkeeper, while Barcelona and Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll received the women’s award.
Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente was named men’s coach of the year, while Barcelona’s Pere Romeu received the women’s coaching award.
Paris Saint-Germain was named men’s club of the year, and Barcelona won the women’s club award.
England and Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka received the Sócrates Award, which recognizes footballers for humanitarian and social initiatives.
The ceremony was held at the London Palladium as the Ballon d’Or marked its 70th anniversary. It was the first time the ceremony was held in London, honoring England’s Stanley Matthews, who won the inaugural Ballon d’Or in 1956.
The Ballon d’Or was created by France Football in 1956 and has been co-organized with UEFA since 2024.
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