London proved a lucky charm. At the first edition ever staged in England, which also marked the trophy’s 70th anniversary, Harry Kane was crowned the world’s best player on Monday, October 26, 2026, on the stage of the London Palladium. Kylian Mbappé took second place, with Lamine Yamal rounding out the podium in third.
The Bayern Munich centre forward’s triumph brings a long drought to an end. Michael Owen, back in 2001, was the last Englishman to lift the most prestigious individual award in the game. Inside the theatre, the crowd rose as one when his name was read out, and chants of « Harry! » soon filled the hall.
The numbers speak for themselves. Over the year, the Leytonstone native found the net 73 times. Sixty-one of those goals came in a Bayern shirt, during a season in which the Bavarians swept aside all comers in Germany, and twelve came for England, six of them at the World Cup. That haul also earned him Striker of the Year honours on the same night, the second time he has won it.
Visibly moved as he took the microphone, Kane made a point of thanking Tottenham, the club where he made his name. He becomes the fourth-oldest player to win the trophy for the first time, a fitting reward for a career that went without major team silverware for so long.
Further down the rankings, there were few surprises. Mbappé, who enjoyed another prolific campaign with Real Madrid, will have to wait a little longer. Yamal can take comfort in a third consecutive Young Player of the Year award. Rodri finished fourth, and eight-time winner Lionel Messi came in fifth.
In the women’s category, Alexia Putellas is back on top. The Spaniard collected her third Ballon d’Or after an outstanding year with Barcelona and her national team, ahead of Poland’s Ewa Pajor and Melchie Dumornay. She succeeds compatriot Aitana Bonmatí, who had won the previous three editions, and has since moved to London City Lionesses.
Spain also left its mark on the rest of the awards. Fresh from winning the World Cup, Luis de la Fuente was named men’s Coach of the Year, while Barcelona’s Pere Romeu took the equivalent prize in the women’s game. Unai Simón and Cata Coll shared the goalkeeping honours, and Vicky López kept hold of her Young Player crown. Mexico’s Charlyn Corral, meanwhile, was named women’s Striker of the Year.
