The Football Association announced on October 26 that Harry Kane had won the 2026 Ballon d'Or, becoming the fifth English player to receive the award. He is England's first winner in 25 years, since Michael Owen in 2001. The 70th awards ceremony took place at the London Palladium.
Kane scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern and England combined last season: 61 for his club and 12 for his country. The 73-goal figure is the total for both teams, rather than his Bayern tally alone. Sustained scoring for club and country provides the standout statistic in his award-winning record.
The fifth English winner, and England's sixth award
Four English players had won the award before Kane, with Kevin Keegan winning in consecutive years. Kane is therefore England's fifth individual recipient, while his victory is the sixth in total for English players.
| English winner | Year(s) won |
|---|---|
| Stanley Matthews | 1956 |
| Bobby Charlton | 1966 |
| Kevin Keegan | 1978, 1979 |
| Michael Owen | 2001 |
| Harry Kane | 2026 |
England head coach Thomas Tuchel congratulated Kane, making particular mention of the 25-year wait. This edition of the ceremony was the first held outside Paris, with London chosen to honor inaugural winner Matthews. Seventy years after Matthews' first victory, Kane has added another Ballon d'Or for England.
Another Gerd Müller Trophy
Kane also won the Gerd Müller Trophy, awarded to the year's best men's goalscorer. It was his second time winning the award, having shared it with Mbappé in 2024. Kane described last season as the best of his career and credited his goalscoring to the collective effort of his Bayern and England teammates and coaches, including their daily work in training.
