Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The ceremony was held in London. He is the first English player to win the award in 25 years. Michael Owen was the last English winner, in 2001. Kane is the Bayern Munich striker and England captain. He scored 73 goals for the club and country last season. That huge tally helped him take the prize. The award is run by French magazine France Football.
Kane beat Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. He is now the fifth English player to win it. The others are Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen. Brazil legend Ronaldo, a two-time winner, handed him the trophy. It was also the first time a Bayern player had won in 45 years. Kane was a popular winner in London.
Kane was emotional on stage. He said he was almost speechless. He thanked France Football and the Ballon d’Or team for the event. He said being in London made it extra special. He felt it was a good sign. He thanked everyone who voted for him. He said he knew it must have been a hard choice.
He also thanked England, Bayern and his old club Tottenham. He spoke about his long road to the top. He said his path was not easy. He had forgettable loan spells early on. He did not go straight to the top. He had to fight for his place. He hoped his story could inspire young boys and girls. He wanted them to know that big dreams can come true.
There was some chaos before the event. The Ballon d’Or website posted three separate articles. Each one named a different winner: Kane, Lamine Yamal and Mbappe. The ceremony also started 45 minutes late. London traffic caused the delay. It began at 8.45pm instead of 8pm.
England boss Thomas Tuchel led the congratulations. He said Kane fully deserved the award. He said he ran out of ways to praise Kane long ago. He was glad the football world had now formally recognised him. He said it was extra special because Kane was the first English winner in 25 years. Tuchel said England is lucky to have Kane as its leader. He told Kane to enjoy the moment with his loved ones. Then he should get back to scoring goals and winning matches.
Prince William also sent his congratulations. He is the patron of the Football Association. He wrote on Instagram that it was a fantastic achievement. He said it was fully deserved. He called Kane a brilliant captain and a remarkable player. He said Kane has given football fans around the world many unforgettable moments.
Why Cristiano Ronaldo Was Left Out of the 2026 Ballon d’Or List
Cristiano Ronaldo was not among the 30 players nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. That was one of the biggest surprises. He has won the award five times. He is still one of the most famous players in its history. Lionel Messi was nominated this year. Messi even finished in the top 10. Ronaldo did not make the shortlist at all.
One big reason is where he plays. Ronaldo now plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. That league is usually seen as weaker than Europe’s top leagues. So his goals and games there may count less with voters. A similar run in Europe’s biggest competitions would likely carry more weight.
His Portugal form is another factor. How the national team does and how Ronaldo plays in big tournaments can affect how voters see his season. Since he joined Al-Nassr, he has missed the Ballon d’Or shortlist two years in a row. He still scores regularly in domestic games.
Other Saudi Pro League players were nominated. Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr teammate Sadio Mané made the list. So did Al-Qadsiah’s Julián Quiñones. Critics said voters rewarded Quiñones for his role in Mexico’s historic run at home. They said voters rewarded Mané for his Africa Cup of Nations success. Another possible reason is team success. Al-Nassr won the domestic league. But they did not win a continental trophy.
FAQs
Q. Who won the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
A. Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Q. How many goals did Harry Kane score last season?
A. Kane scored 73 goals for the club and country last season.
Q. Who were the other leading contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
A. Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal were among the leading contenders.
Q. Who was the last English player to win the Ballon d’Or before Kane?
A. Michael Owen won the award in 2001.
Q. Which England manager congratulated Harry Kane on his win?
A. England manager Thomas Tuchel congratulated Kane and said he fully deserved the award.
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