England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or despite failing to lift either the World Cup or Champions League last season.
Kane was crowned the winner at the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium on Monday, becoming the first Englishman to claim the prestigious award since Michael Owen in 2001.
The 33-year-old beat Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi to the award after an outstanding individual campaign for club and country.
Record-breaking numbers
Kane’s strongest argument was his extraordinary goalscoring output.
He scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich during the 2025/26 season, the highest tally by a Bayern player in a single campaign.
Including his England appearances, Kane finished with 73 goals and eight assists in 65 matches.
He was also the Bundesliga’s top scorer with 36 goals and scored 14 times in the Champions League, despite Bayern eventually being eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.
His numbers helped Bayern win the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, giving Kane a domestic double.
World Cup disappointment
Kane also had a strong individual World Cup despite England falling short of the title.
The Three Lions lost 2-1 to Argentina in the semi-finals, before finishing third.
Kane scored six goals during the tournament and became England’s leading World Cup goalscorer.
Although England did not win the competition, his individual contribution strengthened his Ballon d’Or case.
Rare Ballon d’Or achievement
Kane’s victory is unusual because he became only the fifth Ballon d’Or winner in the past 20 years to claim the award without winning either the World Cup, Champions League or a European Championship/Copa América during the relevant period.
He joins Lionel Messi, who achieved the feat three times, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who did so in 2013.
The result also marks a significant turnaround for Kane, who finished only 10th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings.
Fifth Englishman to win award
Kane is the fifth Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or, following Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen.
He is also the first Bayern Munich player to receive the award since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.
Receiving the trophy in London, Kane said the occasion was especially meaningful because of the venue.
“I am almost speechless. Being here in London has made it extra special,” the England captain said.
Kane’s victory ultimately showed that exceptional individual performance, goalscoring consistency and contributions to team success can outweigh the absence of football’s two biggest trophies.
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