England striker Harry Kane wins 2026 Ballon d’Or ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal

Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane has become the first Englishman to win the Ballon d'Or in 25 years after beating Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal.

Kane, 33, scooped the award ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal during the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Monday night.

The Englishman is the first player from Germany’s top flight to win the prestigious prize, awarded to the world’s best footballer, since Borussia Dortmund’s Matthias Sammer in 1996.

Last season, Kane scored 73 goals across all competitions for Bayern Munich and England, enough to earn him the European Golden Shoe award.

Kane also inspired Bayern to a Bundesliga and DFB Pokal double. He scored 14 goals in the Champions League last season, where Bayern fell at the semifinal stage to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.

He captained England at the World Cup, where they finished third, their best result since winning it in 1966, scoring six goals along the way, including two late strikes to rescue his side against DR Congo and a strike against Mexico at the Azteca in the round of 16.