Harry Kane Wins Ballon d'Or, First Englishman Since 2001

Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or on Monday, becoming the first English player to take the award since Michael Owen in 2001, BBC Sport reported. The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker was named the world's best player at a ceremony in London.

Who are England's other Ballon d'Or winners?

Kane is the fifth Englishman to win the award, according to BBC Sport. The others are Stanley Matthews in 1956, Bobby Charlton in 1966, and Kevin Keegan in 1978 and 1979. Scotland's Denis Law won in 1964 and Northern Ireland's George Best won in 1968, giving the United Kingdom seven men's winners in total before Kane.

Timeline of UK Ballon d'Or winners:

• 1956: Stanley Matthews (England)
• 1964: Denis Law (Scotland)
• 1966: Bobby Charlton (England)
• 1968: George Best (Northern Ireland)
• 1978-79: Kevin Keegan (England)
• 2001: Michael Owen (England)
• 2026: Harry Kane (England)

How did Kane's season compare statistically?

Kane scored 61 goals in 51 club matches last season, the most any Bayern Munich player has scored in a single campaign, BBC Sport reported. Including appearances for England, his total reached 73 goals and eight assists across 65 matches. Only one player at a club in Europe's top five leagues has ever scored more in a season, according to the outlet. Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappe finished second in the voting, with Barcelona and Spain's Lamine Yamal third.

Why did Kane win without lifting a major trophy?

Kane did not win the World Cup or Champions League last season, losing in the semifinals of both competitions, BBC Sport noted. His trophy haul was the German domestic double with Bayern, which more than doubled his career total after also winning the Bundesliga the season before. He is the first Bayern player to win the Ballon d'Or since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.

What did Kane and others say about the win?

"Not many people would have thought it, and maybe even I wouldn't have thought I'd be this far," Kane told Dazn, according to BBC Sport. He said he had to "bide my time and work hard" through early setbacks in his career. England manager Thomas Tuchel called the win a "huge honour" for the forward. Prince William described Kane as a "brilliant captain" and "remarkable player," BBC Sport reported. Wembley's arches were lit gold Monday night to mark the award.

Who won the women's Ballon d'Or?

Spain and Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas won the Ballon d'Or Féminin for a third time, equaling the women's record, HTT News reported. Her win was announced at the same ceremony as Kane's, roughly two hours before the men's award, according to BBC Sport.

Kane's award caps a season in which he set a new scoring benchmark for a Bayern Munich player, even as the club and England fell short of the sport's two biggest prizes.