Kane and Putellas crowned Ballon d’Or winners

Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Englishman to claim the award since Michael Owen 25 years ago.

The Bayern Munich and England captain was crowned the best men’s player at Monday night’s ceremony at the London Palladium, beating Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal to the award.

Kane enjoyed a remarkable 2025/26 campaign, scoring 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country as Bayern enjoyed major domestic success and England impressed at the World Cup.

His victory makes him only the fifth Englishman to win the prestigious prize, following Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.

There was also further history in the women’s award as Alexia Putellas claimed the Ballon d’Or Féminin for the third time.

The Spain international enjoyed another hugely successful season with Barcelona before leaving the club in the summer to join London City Lionesses.

Putellas helped Barcelona enjoy a trophy-laden 2025/26 campaign and added another Ballon d’Or to the awards she previously won in 2021 and 2022.