CORNERFLICK
Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or in London on Monday night, collecting the men’s prize for the first time after a record season for Bayern Munich and England.
Kane ends England’s long wait
The 33-year-old was named the world’s best men’s player at the 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony at the Palladium. He finished ahead of rivals including Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal.
Kane scored 61 goals in 51 official matches for Bayern in 2025-26, along with seven assists. His club haul included 36 Bundesliga goals, 14 in the Champions League, 10 in the German Cup and one in the Super Cup.
He also helped Bayern win the Bundesliga and the German Cup, while becoming a two-time European Golden Shoe winner.
Strong year for club and country
Kane added six goals at the 2026 World Cup as England reached the semi-finals and finished third. Across club and international football last season, he scored 73 goals.
His win ended a 25-year wait for an English men’s Ballon d'Or winner. Michael Owen last took the prize in 2001, and Kane became the fifth English player to win it, after Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.
The Bayern striker had already collected the Gerd Müller award for the season’s best forward earlier in the evening.