Harry Kane wins men's Ballon d'Or for 2026

England captain Harry Kane has won the men’s Ballon d’Or for 2026 at the ceremony at the London Palladium, finishing ahead of Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé.

The Sun’s live results reported that Kane “claimed the top prize” ahead of Yamal and Mbappé in London, becoming the fifth English winner of the award. The Evening Standard’s results coverage likewise reported Kane beating Mbappé and Yamal to the award.

Kane is the first English player to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001, according to The Sun. The previous English winners were Stanley Matthews in 1956, Bobby Charlton in 1966, Kevin Keegan in 1978 and 1979, and Owen in 2001.

The Bayern Munich striker had been the favourite for the award after scoring 73 goals across 65 matches in the eligibility period from 3 August 2025 to 19 July 2026, which covered the 2025-26 club season and the 2026 World Cup.

Earlier in the same ceremony, Kane was also named Striker of the Year alongside Mexico’s Charlyn Corral, USA Today reported in its live coverage.

Elsewhere on the night, Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best young player for a third year running, and Bukayo Saka won the Socrates Award for his humanitarian work, The Sun reported. USA Today’s live coverage likewise recorded Yamal’s third straight Kopa Trophy and Saka’s Socrates Award.

This report covers the men’s Ballon d’Or result only; the women’s award, won by Alexia Putellas, is covered separately.

Sources: The Sun live results (https://www.the-sun.com/sport/17209420/ballon-dor-2026-live-results-harry-kane-lamine-yamal-updates/); Evening Standard results coverage (https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/ballon-dor-2026-results-kane-mbappe-yamal-b13024); USA Today live coverage (https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2026/10/26/ballon-dor-2026-live-winners-results-updates—live/92442487007/).