Harry Kane becomes first English Ballon d'Or winner in 25 years
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane was awarded the 2026 Ballon d'Or in London, ending a quarter-century gap since an English player last won the prize.
Harry Kane received the 2026 Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in London, becoming the first English player to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001. The French magazine France Football cited Kane’s 73 goals for club and country during the 2025-26 season as the key factor behind his selection, ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal.
"Wow, I'm almost speechless," Kane said on stage, thanking France Football, England, Bayern Munich and his former club Tottenham. He added that his journey, which included several loan spells, was intended to inspire young players.
"My heart was beating fast and I was hoping that (Ronaldo, who presented the award) would say my name. It’s beyond my wildest dreams," he told reporters later, praising teammates such as Michael Olise, Luis Diaz, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham for creating scoring opportunities.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel congratulated the captain, describing his performances as deserving of formal recognition and noting the significance of the achievement for the nation.
"Congratulations Harry on a deserved Ballon d'Or! To become the first Englishman to win this huge honour in 25 years makes it extra special," Tuchel said.
Prince William, patron of the Football Association, also sent his congratulations via social media, calling the award a "fantastic achievement" and highlighting Kane’s impact on fans worldwide.
Former England striker Jamie Carragher, speaking for Sky Sports, called the win a long-awaited milestone for the country and suggested that Kane’s move to Bayern Munich was pivotal for his success.
The ceremony experienced a brief delay due to traffic and earlier website errors that briefly listed Mbappé and Yamal as winners before the correct result was confirmed.