Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas Win 2026 Ballon d'Or Awards

Harry Kane of Bayern Munich received the 2026 Ballon d'Or, edging Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, who finished as runner-up. Kane, 33, scored 73 goals for club and country during the 2025-26 season, topped the Bundesliga with 36 goals for a second consecutive league title, and helped Bayern reach the Champions League semi-finals. He also contributed six goals at the World Cup as England finished third.

"Kane has long been one of his generation's truly elite strikers, and adding a Ballon d'Or to his career achievements further cements his status as one of the better players to ever play his position," the source noted.

Mbappé, 27, led the World Cup scoring chart with 10 goals and set a new tournament record with 22 career goals, but France lost in the semi-finals and the third-place match. His club season was less successful as Real Madrid did not win any trophies, although he scored 42 goals in 44 matches across all competitions.

On the women's side, Alexia Putellas claimed her third Ballon d'Or Féminin, matching Aitana Bonmatí for the most wins in the award's history. The 32-year-old forward helped Barcelona achieve a quadruple, including a seventh consecutive Liga F title and a third Champions League victory in four seasons, contributing nine league goals, seven assists, and eight goals with six assists in the Champions League. She remains a key player for the top-ranked Spain national team.

Other notable performances included Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw, who scored 21 league goals as the club secured the Premier League and FA Cup double, and Barcelona midfielder Patri Guijarro, who also collected multiple titles last season.