Harry Kane Wins 2026 Ballon d'Or, First Englishman in 25 Years

Harry Kane, the England captain and Bayern Munich striker, was announced as the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner on October 27, 2026. He won the award at the London Palladium, marking the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d'Or, and was presented by Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário.

Kane, 33, is the first English player to win this prestigious award in 25 years, joining the ranks of Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan, and Michael Owen. He scored 61 goals in 51 club matches last season, the highest for a Bayern player in a single campaign, and a total of 73 goals in 65 matches including international appearances.

Despite Bayern's defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and England's loss to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, Kane's performance earned him the award. He is the first Bayern player to win the Ballon d'Or since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.