Harry Kane wins Ballon d'Or 2026, Putellas takes third women's title
Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or in London ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, becoming the first Englishman to win it in 25 years. Alexia Putellas won the women's award for a third time.
At a glance
- Harry Kane of Bayern Munich and England won the men's Ballon d'Or on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium, ahead of Kylian Mbappé (2nd) and Lamine Yamal (3rd).
- Kane is the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001 and only the fifth ever, after Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen. He also won the Gerd Müller Trophy as the top scorer.
- Alexia Putellas won the women's Ballon d'Or for the third time after 2021 and 2022, ahead of Ewa Pajor and Khadija Shaw.
- Spanish players and coaches swept the young player and goalkeeper prizes: Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for a third straight year, and Unai Simón and Cata Coll took the Yashin Trophies.
- The 70th edition was the first Ballon d'Or ceremony held outside France, chosen to honour the first winner, Stanley Matthews.
Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or on Monday night, October 26, at the London Palladium, finishing ahead of Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal to become the first Englishman to win football's most famous individual award in 25 years. The Bayern Munich striker and England captain also took the Gerd Müller Trophy for the season's top scorer, while Spain's Alexia Putellas won the women's Ballon d'Or for a third time.
What happened
The 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony was held in London — the first time in its history that the awards left France. Organisers chose the city to honour Stanley Matthews, the Blackpool and England winger who won the very first Ballon d'Or in 1956. The start was pushed back by about half an hour, and the main prize was announced late in the evening London time, in the early hours of Tuesday in Pakistan.
Kane, 33, joins a very short list of English winners: Matthews (1956), Bobby Charlton (1966), Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) and Michael Owen (2001). He becomes the fifth Englishman to lift the trophy and the first since Owen.
In his speech, Kane said winning it in London "made it extra special", thanked the voters and the players he was up against, and paid tribute to his first club, Tottenham Hotspur, saying he would not be where he is today without them. He also said it had been an honour to captain England.
Full results: men's top 10
| Rank | Player | Club | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | England |
| 2 | Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid | France |
| 3 | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | Spain |
| 4 | Rodri | Barcelona | Spain |
| 5 | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | Argentina |
| 6 | Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | Paris Saint-Germain | Georgia |
| 7 | Ousmane Dembélé | Paris Saint-Germain | France |
| 8 | Erling Haaland | Manchester City | Norway |
| 9 | Michael Olise | Bayern Munich | France |
| 10 | Fabián Ruiz | Paris Saint-Germain | Spain |
Women's top 10
| Rank | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexia Putellas | Spain |
| 2 | Ewa Pajor | Poland |
| 3 | Khadija Shaw | Jamaica |
| 4 | Melchie Dumornay | Haiti |
| 5 | Patri Guijarro | Spain |
| 6 | Caroline Graham Hansen | Norway |
| 7 | Pernille Harder | Denmark |
| 8 | Clàudia Pina | Spain |
| 9 | Alessia Russo | England |
| 10 | Temwa Chawinga | Malawi |
All the other award winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Men's Ballon d'Or | Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England) |
| Women's Ballon d'Or | Alexia Putellas (Spain) |
| Kopa Trophy (best young player, men) | Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain) |
| Kopa Trophy (women) | Vicky López (Barcelona, Spain) |
| Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper, men) | Unai Simón (Athletic Club, Spain) |
| Yashin Trophy (women) | Cata Coll (Barcelona, Spain) |
| Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer, men) | Harry Kane |
| Gerd Müller Trophy (women) | Charlyn Corral (Pachuca, Mexico) |
| Coach of the Year (men) | Luis de la Fuente (Spain) |
| Coach of the Year (women) | Pere Romeu (Barcelona) |
| Club of the Year (men) | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Club of the Year (women) | Barcelona |
| Sócrates Award | Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, England) |
Spain had a remarkable night. Spanish players won all four young-player and goalkeeper prizes, Luis de la Fuente was named best men's coach after leading Spain to the 2026 World Cup title, and Barcelona were named the best women's club.
Background: Kane's long road to the top
For most of his career, Kane was one of the world's most reliable goalscorers without the trophies to match. He became Tottenham's and England's all-time record scorer but left north London in 2023 without a major title. His move to Bayern Munich changed that, bringing him the silverware that had escaped him in England, and his goals for club and country over the past season put him at the top of the vote.
His win ends a long run of Ballon d'Or titles going to players from continental clubs and countries. The award was won by Lionel Messi a record eight times, while Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain won in 2025.
Putellas's third title completes a strong comeback. She won in 2021 and 2022, then suffered a serious knee (ACL) injury that kept her out for many months. In her speech she encouraged young players to follow their dreams "even if you have to start from zero".
Reactions
Kane's win drew congratulations from English football and from Bayern Munich, who also had Michael Olise in the top 10. Mbappé, second after another huge scoring season at Real Madrid, and 19-year-old Yamal, third and winner of the Kopa Trophy for the third year running, are widely seen as the favourites for the years ahead.
The Sócrates Award, given for social and charity work, went to Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, making it a double celebration for English football on the night.
Why it matters
The Ballon d'Or is voted for by a panel of international journalists and is the most prestigious individual honour in football. Kane's win is a major moment for English football and for the Premier League, where he spent the first part of his career, and it confirms the Bundesliga's pull for top stars. For fans across South Asia, where English and Spanish football have huge followings, it was one of the most-watched football events of the year.
What happens next
Kane returns to Bundesliga and Champions League duty with Bayern Munich this week, and will lead England in their next international matches in November. The winners of the 2027 Ballon d'Or will be decided on performances in the 2026-27 season.
Questions people are asking
Who won the Ballon d'Or 2026?
Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich striker and England captain, won the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or on October 26 in London. Kylian Mbappé finished second and Lamine Yamal third. Alexia Putellas won the women's award.
Who was the last English player to win the Ballon d'Or?
Before Harry Kane in 2026, the last Englishman to win the Ballon d'Or was Michael Owen in 2001, 25 years earlier. Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan are the other English winners.
How many Ballon d'Or awards has Alexia Putellas won?
Alexia Putellas has now won the women's Ballon d'Or three times, in 2021, 2022 and 2026. Her third title comes after she recovered from a serious knee (ACL) injury.
