Ballon d’Or: How Kane won without World Cup, Champions League

Harry Kane, the England captain and Bayern Munich striker, has been named the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner. The 33-year-old has outperformed Kylian Mbappe of France and Lamine Yamal, who won the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award, to claim the prestigious title. He has become the first English player to win the award in 25 years, following Michael Owen's victory in 2001.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony, held at the London Palladium to mark its 70th anniversary, was presented by Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário. Kane expressed his amazement at being recognized in London, stating that it made the award "extra special". He thanked his supporters for their votes and acknowledged the difficulty of the competition, emphasizing the determination and hard work necessary to achieve such success.

Despite suffering defeats in the Champions League and World Cup last season, Kane remains the first Bayern Munich player to win the award since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981. His impressive season included scoring 61 goals in 51 club matches, the most by a Bayern player in one campaign, and a total of 73 goals, including eight assists in 65 matches.

This win marks only the fifth time in the past 20 years that the Ballon d’Or has not been awarded to a player who won either the World Cup, the Champions League, or a European Championship/Copa America.