The key facts
- Harry Kane became the first English Ballon d'Or winner since 2001
- 73 goals in 65 matches for Bayern and the England national team last season
- It is the Bundesliga's first award since 1996 (Matthias Sammer) and Bayern's first since 1981 (Rummenigge)
Kane is the world's best footballer of 2026
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane received the Ballon d'Or at a ceremony at London's Palladium theatre — roughly ten kilometres from Brisbane Road, where he once scored his first professional goal in England's third division. This was reported by Euronews (https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/27/harry-kane-is-first-bundesliga-player-since-matthias-sammer-to-win-ballon-dor). The 33-year-old forward became the first England international to win the award since 2001. 'Few people could have predicted this, and I probably didn't think I would come this far myself,' Kane said in an interview with the streaming service DAZN, adding that he was never considered a player who would become a superstar.
The numbers and the historic significance
The award was based on 73 goals in 65 matches for Bayern and the England national team last season: in the view of the journalists' jury, Kane finished ahead of Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal and Rodri. The award also ended a long 'drought' for the German championship: the last Bundesliga player to win the Ballon d'Or was Matthias Sammer in 1996, and for Bayern, Kane is the first winner since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (1981). Club president Herbert Hainer called the day an important one for Bayern and said that Kane now 'stands alongside Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.' Thus, a single award broke two long-standing records at once — at the level of the England national team and at the level of German football.
The ceremony and the congratulations
An emotional moment of the ceremony was Kane's thanks to his family — his father-in-law and mother-in-law, his parents, his brother Charlie and his wife Katie, who was seated in the hall, as well as his children, who stayed at home. He also thanked the coaches: Bayern's current head coach Vincent Kompany, who was unable to attend after falling ill on Friday, and Thomas Tuchel — the club's former coach and current manager of the England national team. 'For a long time now I have run out of words to describe your achievements, but I am delighted to see that the football world has officially recognised you,' Tuchel said. Prince Harry also sent his congratulations, calling Kane 'a brilliant captain' and 'an outstanding player'.
Putellas wins the women's award
The women's Ballon d'Or went to 32-year-old Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas, who finished ahead of her compatriot Claudia Pina and England's Alessia Russo in the voting. For the Spaniard it is a third award: she previously won in 2021 and 2022, then suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear, and her place at the top was temporarily taken by Aitana Bonmatí, who won three prizes in a row — including in 2025. This year Bonmatí missed the shortlist after breaking her leg in December. The women's Ballon d'Or has been awarded since 2018, when Ada Hegerberg became the first winner. 'Believe in yourself — that is the most important thing. If you have a dream, go after it, even if at some point you have to start from scratch,' Putellas told young players.
