Harry Kane Wins the 2026 Ballon d'Or in London

Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or during the 70th ceremony held in London, succeeding Ousmane Dembélé. The English striker earned the honor after scoring 73 goals and providing 8 passes in 65 matches during the 2025-2026 season.

The ceremony, which took place in London for the first time as a tribute to inaugural winner Stanley Matthews, featured intense competition. Kane finished ahead of finalists Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal in the final voting conducted by international journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries.

During his emotional acceptance speech, Kane expressed gratitude to his family and supporters. "Mom and dad, you never put pressure on me but always pushed me to become better. Thanks, I love you," the 33-year-old forward stated. He also thanked his wife and former club Tottenham, drawing a lighthearted reaction from attendees.

In the women's category, Spain's Alexia Putellas claimed her third Ballon d'Or title, joining compatriot Aitana Bonmatí in the history books. Putellas secured the award after winning the UEFA Women's Champions League with Barcelona before moving to the London City Lionesses.

The event also recognized Paris Saint-Germain as the team of the year following their consecutive Champions League titles, with Ousmane Dembélé accepting the trophy on behalf of the club. In addition, Kane and Mexican player Charlyn Corral were honored as the season's top goalscorers.

Earlier in the day, the official Ballon d'Or website experienced a technical error that temporarily published contradictory articles naming Kane, Mbappé, and Yamal as winners simultaneously. Organizers had prepared multiple drafts in advance to report the outcome quickly, leading to the mix-up.

The evening concluded with logistical challenges outside the venue as guests experienced transportation delays leaving the red carpet area, prompting temporary frustration among attendees before normal operations resumed.