Ballon d’Or 2026: Harry Kane Pips Yamal And Mbappe To Prestigious Award At London Ceremony

The 25-year wait for an English winner is OVER. And there is no more worthy winner than the England captain: Harry Edward Kane.

Kane became the first Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or since 2001 as he pipped Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe to football’s most coveted individual prize.

England captain and Bayern Munich striker Kane was the favourite after an astonishing display of goalscoring last season, with 89 goals for club and country in just 81 appearances since the start of last season

The 33-year-old won the German league and cup double for Bayern while also guiding his club to the Champions League semi-finals, where they lost to winners PSG.

He then led his country to the last four of the World Cup, where they suffered a devastating loss to Argentina.

England nevertheless achieved their best World Cup finish since 1966, coming home with bronze after victory over France in the third-place play-off.

Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan, and Michael Owen were previous winners of the prestigious football award, and now Harry Kane.

The fifth Englishman to win football’s most prestigious individual prize.