After years of doubt and countless goals without a major individual trophy, Harry Kane has finally been crowned. On Monday, October 26, 2026, at the 70th ceremony held at the London Palladium, the English striker received the men’s Ballon d’Or, succeeding Ousmane Dembélé.
Kane’s award rewards an exceptional 2025/26 season. With 61 goals for Bayern Munich and 12 for England, he also wore the captain’s armband for his national team at the 2026 World Cup. That volume of output, rare in the history of the trophy, explains a verdict that took time to emerge: the suspense is said to have remained intact until the closing minutes of the ceremony.
The men’s podium is completed by two players from the new generation, Kylian Mbappé (2nd) and Lamine Yamal (3rd). By winning the prize, Harry Kane becomes the fifth English player to write his name into the Ballon d’Or roll of honor — a personal crowning that finally rewards a career of remarkable consistency.
In the women’s category, Spain’s Alexia Putellas was honored with the women’s Ballon d’Or, consolidating her status as the most decorated player in the competition’s history. A London evening that will be remembered for the crowning of a striker long kept in the shadow of the major awards.
TheHatLady
