Harry Kane wins Ballon d'Or after record-breaking season with Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane became the first English player to win the Ballon d'Or since 2001, highlighted by a 61-goal season in club competition.
Harry Kane was named the winner of the Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in London, becoming the first English player to receive the award since Michael Owen in 2001. The 33-year-old Bayern Munich forward is the fifth Englishman overall to win the prize, joining Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan, while Denis Law and George Best are the other United Kingdom winners.
Kane scored 61 goals in 51 club matches last season – a record for Bayern Munich – and added 12 goals for England, bringing his total to 73 goals and eight assists in 65 matches. His tally was the highest in Europe’s top five leagues, surpassing the previous season best by 19 goals and matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s 61-goal haul for Real Madrid in 2013-14.
"Not many people would have thought it, and maybe even I wouldn't have thought I'd be this far," Kane told DAZN, describing the ups and downs of his career and the self-belief required to succeed.
England manager Thomas Tuchel said he was "delighted" to see Kane win the award and called it a "huge honour" for the forward.
Prince William described the former Tottenham Hotspur player as a "brilliant captain" and a "remarkable player."
Kane’s achievement comes despite Bayern Munich losing in the Champions League semi-finals and England exiting the World Cup at the semi-final stage. He is the first Bayern player to win the Ballon d'Or since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981. Wembley Stadium lit its arches in gold to mark the occasion.
Analysts noted that while Kane has not lifted football’s biggest team trophies this season, his individual output – including 36 Bundesliga goals, 14 Champions League goals and 10 German Cup goals – set him apart from his peers. The award also placed him ahead of Real Madrid forward Kylan Mbappé, who finished second, and Barcelona attacker Lamine Yamal, who completed the top three.
Looking ahead, Kane has started the new season with ten goals in his first twelve Bundesliga matches and has added six goals for England in the Nations League, keeping Bayern unbeaten in domestic and European competition.