Harry Kane Wins 2026 Ballon d'Or as Lionel Messi Finishes Fifth

English striker Harry Kane was awarded the 2026 Ballon d'Or on Monday during a special ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the prestigious award organized by France Football. Held at the London Palladium in London, the event crowned the Bayern Munich forward as the world's best footballer for the first time in his career after a highly competitive voting process.

Kane, 33, prevailed over strong candidates including Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, and Lionel Messi. In addition to securing the main individual trophy, the English captain also received the Gerd Müller Trophy as the season's top goalscorer, capping off an unforgettable evening that highlighted his stellar performances for both club and country.

Lionel Messi, the historical record-holder with eight Ballon d'Or titles, finished fifth in the voting at 39 years old. Despite missing out on the podium for only the third time in his career when nominated, the Argentine star remained among the top ten players globally following a strong year that featured an impressive campaign at the 2026 World Cup, where he recorded eight goals and four assists in eight matches.

Messi decided against traveling to London due to a heavy schedule of intercontinental trips, institutional commitments, and competitive duties with Inter Miami, choosing instead to stay in the United States where he participated in the international youth tournament bearing his name, the Messi Cup.

The top five of the 2026 men's ranking consisted of Harry Kane in first place, followed by Kylian Mbappé in second, Lamine Yamal in third, Rodri in fourth, and Lionel Messi in fifth. Other notable Argentine finishes included Lautaro Martínez, who placed 22nd in the men's ranking, and Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez, who finished fifth in the Yashin Trophy voting for the best goalkeeper.

Spanish football dominated several categories during the gala. Lamine Yamal collected the Kopa Trophy for the third consecutive year as the world's best under-21 player at just 19 years old, while Unai Simón received the Yashin Trophy for best male goalkeeper. In the coaching categories, Spain's World Cup-winning manager Luis de la Fuente was named the best men's coach.

In the women's categories, Alexia Putellas claimed her third Ballon d'Or following a stellar season with Barcelona before moving to English football, matching her previous victories from 2021 and 2022. Other notable winners included Vicky López as the best young female player, Cata Coll as the best female goalkeeper, and Pere Romeu as the best women's coach.