Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane won the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or on Monday, becoming the first English player to claim football’s most prestigious individual award since Michael Owen in 2001, while Spain’s Alexia Putellas secured her third Women’s Ballon d’Or.
The awards were presented at the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium, marking the first time the prestigious event was held in the British capital.
Kane, 33, claimed the award for the first time after scoring 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and England during the 2025-26 campaign, including 61 goals in 51 matches for the German side, which won a domestic double.
The England captain also scored six goals at the 2026 World Cup, helping his country finish third.
Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappe finished second in the Men’s Ballon d’Or voting, while Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal took third place.
Kane became the fifth English player to win the award, joining Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen, who last claimed the prize in 2001.
He succeeded Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele, who won the award in 2025.
Meanwhile, Putellas, 32, claimed her third Women’s Ballon d’Or following her previous victories in 2021 and 2022, equaling former Barcelona teammate Aitana Bonmati’s record.
The Spanish midfielder captained Barcelona to a quadruple during the 2025-26 season, winning Liga F, Copa de la Reina, the Spanish Super Cup and Women’s Champions League.
She was also named the Champions League Player of the Season and helped Spain win the Women’s Nations League.
Putellas joined London City Lionesses in July after her trophy-laden spell with Barcelona.
– Other award winners
Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal won Men’s Young Talent of the Year for the third consecutive year, while Barcelona forward Vicky Lopez claimed the women’s award for the second successive year.
Spain’s World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente was named Men’s Coach of the Year, while Barcelona’s Pere Romeu received the women’s coaching award.
Athletic Bilbao’s Unai Simon won Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, with Barcelona’s Cata Coll claiming the women’s honor.
Bayern Munich’s Kane also received the Men’s Striker of the Year award following his prolific campaign, while Mexican forward Charlyn Corral became the first Mexican to win the Women’s Striker of the Year award.
Barcelona were named Women’s Club of the Year, while Paris Saint-Germain claimed the men’s club award.
Arsenal and England winger Bukayo Saka received the Socrates Award for his humanitarian work, including funding 120 medical operations for children in Kano, Nigeria through a partnership with charity BigShoe in 2022.