We and our partners do the following data processing based on your consent: store and/or access information on a device, personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development Harry Kane ends England's 25-year Ballon d'Or drought, Putellas wins third crown Harry Kane became the first Englishman in 25 years to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday after scoring 73 goals for club and country last season. Spain’s Alexia Putellas claimed her third women’s award after helping Barcelona win the Champions League, ending teammate Aitana Bonmati’s three-year reign. Alexia Putellas and Harry Kane pose with their Ballon d'Or awards in London. © FRANCK FIFE, Harry Kane won the Ballon d’Or on Monday and became the first Englishman in 25 years to receive the prestigious prize.
The Bayern Munich striker scored 73 goals for club and country last season and smashed scoring records in Germany and at the World Cup, where he captained England to a third-place finish. Read moreMbappé, Kane and Yamal top favourites list in wide-open 2026 Ballon d’Or race Kane was the top vote-getter among nominees who included Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. I had to fight my way to be the very best right now,” an emotional Kane said.
Kane led Bayern to the Bundesliga and German Cup double, scoring a hat trick against Stuttgart in the cup final. At the World Cup, he scored six times to pass Gary Lineker as England’s highest World Cup scorer and place himself among the all-time top five. England reached the semifinals where it lost to Argentina.
An Englishman hadn’t won the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001. Monday’s ceremony was held in London for the first time in recognition of the inaugural winner 70 years ago, England’s Stanley Matthews in 1956. Alexia Putellas won the women's Ballon d'Or for a third time © FRANCK FIFE / Earlier, Spain star Alexia Putellas won her third women’s Ballon d’Or after leading her former club Barcelona to multiple trophies last season including the Women’s Champions League.
Putellas, who joined London City Lionesses in the offseason, also helped Spain win the Women’s Nations League last December. The 32-year-old midfielder ended Spain teammate Aitana Bonmati’s three-year reign. Putellas won the prestigious award in back-to-back seasons — 2021 and ‘22 — before tearing her ACL and seeing Bonmati rise to stardom.
Bonmati, who completed her women’s Ballon d’Or three-peat in 2025, was not on this year’s shortlist after breaking her leg in December. Mbappé, Kane and Yamal top favourites list in wide-open 2026 Ballon d’Or race Ballon d'Or 2025: PSG dominate nominations as Rodri, Messi and Ronaldo miss the cut 1. 1 ## Interior ministry says 410,000 protesters across France as organisers claim 'nearly 800,000' As it happened France 2. 2 ## Macron says 'racist terrorist attack’ in Trappes marks turning point for France France Includes a video 5 min 3. 3 ## Government says protests across France 'went well' despite nearly 1,000 arrests France Includes a video 12 min 4. 4 ## Trump administration sues to block possible Democratic win in Alaska Senate race Americas Includes a video 2 min 5. 5 ## French police deploy in large numbers, major Paris museums close ahead of new protests France Includes a video 2 min 6. 6 ## NFL would cancel Paris game if unsafe due to protests, Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers says Sport © 2026 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved. France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites.
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