Sports reporter
LONDON: England captain Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first English footballer in 25 years to receive the prestigious award recognising the world’s outstanding male player.
The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker was crowned at a ceremony at London’s Palladium Theatre on Monday, beating France’s Kylian Mbappé and Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to football’s highest individual honour.
Kane’s victory follows a remarkable 2025-26 campaign in which he scored 73 goals for club and country, cementing his reputation as one of the most prolific forwards in world football. His performances helped Bayern secure major domestic honours, while his contribution to England’s World Cup campaign further strengthened his case for the award.
The last Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or was Michael Owen, who received the honour in 2001. Kane now joins an illustrious group of English winners that includes Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan.
Speaking after receiving the trophy, an emotional Kane expressed his gratitude to those who had supported him throughout his career, including his teammates, coaches, family and supporters.
Kane’s success is particularly significant given his long journey from early loan spells in English football to becoming one of Europe’s leading strikers. His career has been marked by consistent goalscoring, professionalism and a determination to establish himself among the game’s elite. The England captain also received recognition for his prolific goalscoring during the season, adding to an already impressive collection of individual.
Kane’s triumph marks a historic moment for English football and provides a fitting reward for a season in which his individual brilliance and contribution to team success made him a leading contender for the game’s most coveted individual prize.
