Harry Kane wins 2026 Ballon d’Or after record-breaking Bayern Munich season

Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, claiming the prestigious award for the first time after an outstanding campaign with Bayern Munich and England.

The England captain was presented with the honour at a ceremony in London on Monday, finishing ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal. Kane’s success followed a season in which Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal and the German Super Cup.

Kane was in prolific form for Bayern during the 2025-26 season, scoring 61 goals and providing seven assists in 51 appearances. His consistency in front of goal was central to his victory and established him as the leading individual player of the campaign.

He also played a major role in England’s run at the 2026 World Cup. Kane scored six goals and supplied one assist in seven matches, helping his country finish third and ending the tournament among its leading scorers.

Across the entire season, Kane made 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and England. He scored 73 goals, registered eight assists and won three trophies with the German club.

The award recognises a campaign in which Kane combined exceptional individual numbers with major team honours. It also confirms his status among the world’s leading strikers.

Kane becomes the first Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001. Owen, who played for Liverpool and Real Madrid, was the previous English recipient of the award.

Kane is the fifth English player to win the prize. Stanley Matthews was the first, in 1956, followed by Bobby Charlton in 1966 and Kevin Keegan, who won it in 1978 and 1979.

The Bayern Munich forward also received the Gerd Muller Award at the same ceremony for being the leading goalscorer in 2026.