Harry Kane Named 2026 Ballon d'Or Winner Over Yamal, Mbappe

New Delhi, October 27: England football captain Harry Kane has been awarded the 2026 Ballon d'Or, marking a historic moment for English football as the first player from England to win the honour in the last 25 years.

The award was presented at the Palladium Theatre in London during a lavish ceremony. Kane saw off competition from Spain's Lamine Yamal and France's Kylian Mbappe to take the top prize.

Kane currently plays for Bayern Munich, whereas Yamal and Mbappe are teammates at Real Madrid.

The Ballon d'Or trophy, sponsored by L'Equipe, is awarded based on votes cast by football journalists and administrators across the world.

Kane took the stage to congratulate every player nominated for the award and thanked the teammates he has shared the pitch with during his career.

"I can barely speak. Being in London makes it even more special," he remarked.

His success this year has been built on dedication and performance. Kane collected the European Golden Boot, contributed significantly to Bayern Munich's Bundesliga title, and carried England to the World Cup semifinals.

He equalled England's all-time caps record this month and raised his international goal tally to 91 in 125 matches.

Kane's output over the past year has been exceptional, with 89 goals scored for club and country since the beginning of August 2025.

At Bayern Munich, he has emerged as one of the Bundesliga's most recognisable names, valued for his all-round ability, creativity, intelligence and professional approach. The club invested a initial fee of 100 million euros in him three years ago, a move that broke the club's typical signing pattern as he was 30 at the time. Kane has validated that investment with his form.

The award also brings an end to the long dominance of Messi and Ronaldo at the top of the sport, and is expected to multiply his earnings in the coming years. Kane now stands alongside the elite names in world football.