Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Englishman to take football's best-known individual award since Michael Owen in 2001. The Bayern Munich and England striker received the prize on Monday night, October 26, at the first ceremony ever held in London. Spain's Alexia Putellas won the women's award for the third time.

Kane, 33, finished ahead of Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. He was rewarded for a season in which he scored 73 goals in 65 games for club and country, according to Al Jazeera and Sky Sports. In that time he helped Bayern to a league and cup double and led England to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

A London night for an English striker

The 70th edition of the awards moved from its usual home in Paris to the London Palladium. Organisers said the move honoured Stanley Matthews, the Blackpool and England winger who won the first Ballon d'Or in 1956, according to Yahoo Sports. The ceremony ran more than an hour late, and Sky Sports reported that heavy London traffic held up the start.

Kane is the fifth English winner, after Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen. On stage he appeared emotional.

"Wow, I'm almost speechless," Kane said, according to Sky Sports. "Being here in London has made it extra special."

The former Tottenham Hotspur captain also thanked the club where he made his name before moving to Germany in 2023. "I wouldn't be where I am today without Tottenham, for sure," he said, in remarks reported by Yahoo Sports. Kane also won the Gerd Muller Trophy for the season's best striker.

The rankings

After Kane, Mbappe and Yamal, the men's top 10 was Rodri in fourth, Lionel Messi fifth, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sixth, Ousmane Dembele seventh, Erling Haaland eighth, Michael Olise ninth and Fabian Ruiz tenth.

Paris Saint-Germain, who had three players in the top 10, were named men's Club of the Year. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was named men's Coach of the Year. Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best young player for another year, and Athletic Bilbao's Unai Simon took the Yashin Trophy for goalkeepers. Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka received the Socrates Award, which honours players for their social and charity work.

Putellas completes her comeback

Putellas won the Ballon d'Or Feminin again after taking it in 2021 and 2022, completing her return from a serious injury. Barcelona's Ewa Pajor was second and Manchester City's Khadija Shaw third. "This prize is for Barcelona," Putellas said, according to Al Jazeera's live coverage.

Barcelona's Pere Romeu was named women's Coach of the Year, and the club won women's Club of the Year. Vicky Lopez took the women's young player award, Cata Coll was named best goalkeeper, and Mexico's Charlyn Corral won the women's striker award.

Africa's representation

No African player made the men's top 10. Morocco and PSG full-back Achraf Hakimi was the highest-placed African at 13th, and Senegal's Sadio Mane was tied for 29th, according to Sky Sports and Yahoo Sports. In the women's rankings, Malawi forward Temwa Chawinga finished 10th and Zambia captain Barbra Banda 18th.

Many Kenyan Premier League fans first followed Kane during his years at Tottenham. Having waited years for team honours in England, he now adds the sport's biggest individual prize to the trophies he has won at Bayern.

Photos: Sky Sports; No Swan So Fine / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)