Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas Win the 2026 Ballon d'Or Awards

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and London City Lionesses midfielder Alexia Putellas were crowned as the winners of the 2026 Ballon d'Or during a historic ceremony held at the London Palladium Theatre on October 26, 2026. Marking the first time the prestigious football awards ceremony traveled to London in its history, the 70th annual event celebrated the top players in global men's and women's football for the 2025-26 season.

Kane claimed his first-ever men's Ballon d'Or by defeating strong competition from finalists Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. In his acceptance speech, the 33-year-old forward expressed his surprise and gratitude. 'Wow, wow, wow. First of all, I'm almost speechless,' Kane said. He added, 'Thank you to the Ballon d'Or organisers for putting on this amazing event. It's fantastic. The fact that it's being held here in London, of course, makes it even more special for me.'

With this victory, Kane ended a 25-year drought for English football, becoming the first Englishman to claim the honor since Michael Owen in 2001. He also joined an elite group of Bayern Munich players to win the trophy, following in the footsteps of Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer, and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who was the club's last winner in 1981.

Kane's triumph followed an extraordinary season for both club and country. He scored a remarkable 73 goals in 65 games, helping Bayern Munich capture the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal, and the German Supercup. Additionally, he captained the England national team and scored six goals in seven matches during the FIFA World Cup before England was eliminated by Argentina in the semifinals.

During his acceptance speech, Kane took time to thank his managers, teammates, and former clubs. He expressed appreciation for Bayern manager Vincent Kompany and his coaching staff, noting how they helped him grow as a player, person, and leader. He also acknowledged his England teammates, praising the strong bond built during the World Cup, and paid tribute to Tottenham Hotspur, stating that his formative years with the club allowed him to live his childhood dream.

In the women's category, Alexia Putellas earned the 2026 Women's Ballon d'Or for a record-tying third time. The Spanish midfielder, who previously won the coveted prize in 2021 and 2022 while playing for Barcelona, added another historic milestone to her career by matching the three-crown record held by her former Barcelona colleague Aitana Bonmatí.

The evening drew enthusiastic praise from across the football community. Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel extended his congratulations to Kane, remarking that he had run out of superlatives for the striker's performances and noting that it was special to see him formally recognized by the global football world as England's golden boy.