73 goals drive Kane to Ballon d'Or as Putellas wins women's honor

Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or on Monday.

The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker accepted the award in London, ending a 25 year wait for an English winner. Michael Owen last claimed the prize in 2001. Kane’s victory follows a season where he scored 73 goals for club and country, a total that secured his place as the top candidate among voters.

Kane’s performance at Bayern Munich drove the German club to a domestic league and cup double in the 2025-26 season. He scored 61 goals in 51 matches across all competitions. His international performance added weight to his campaign, as he netted six goals during the World Cup and led England to the semi-finals. The award recognizes his consistency as much as his volume, with Kane finishing as Europe’s leading goalscorer.

In his acceptance speech, Kane expressed surprise and gratitude. He thanked the voters, his coaches, Tottenham Hotspur, and his wife Kate. Kane described his career path as a journey that included periods of struggle and loans before he became a complete forward. "It's about the journey," Kane said. "Anything is possible, work hard when nobody is watching."

He added that he was not the type of player who reached the top immediately. "I had to experience the downs. I had to find my way to be the very best right now," Kane said. He also congratulated the other nominees, noting the high level of competition.

The race for the award was tight. Kylian Mbappe broke World Cup scoring records, and Lamine Yamal helped Spain win the tournament. However, voters selected Kane for his sustained output over the entire season. Mbappe finished second in the voting. Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Lionel Messi followed Kane in the rankings.

Alexia Putellas of Spain and Barcelona won the Ballon d'Or Feminin for the third time. Her victory followed a campaign where she helped Barcelona win a treble in the 2025-26 season, in addition to the Spanish Super Cup. Putellas moved to the London City Lionesses in July after spending 14 years at Barcelona.

Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for young talent, marking his third trophy in that category. Vicky Lopez won the women's young talent award for the second year in a row. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was named men's coach of the year. Pere Romeu of Barcelona won the women's coaching award.

Unai Simon of Athletic Bilbao won the men's goalkeeper award, while Cata Coll of Barcelona won the women's prize. Paris Saint-Germain was named club of the year in the men's category, and Barcelona received the women's club honor. Kane also took home the men's striker of the year award. Charlyn Corral was named the top women's striker.

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal and England received the Socrates Award for humanitarian work. The ceremony confirmed Kane’s status as England’s all-time leading marksman and their record World Cup scorer.