BREAKING: Harry Kane wins Ballon d’Or to end England’s 25-year wait

Harry Kane has become the first English footballer in 25 years to win the Ballon d’Or, following his outstanding performances for Bayern Munich and England during the 2025-26 season, Sport360NG reports. 

The Bayern Munich striker was crowned the world’s best player at a ceremony in London, becoming the fifth Englishman to receive the prestigious individual award. He follows Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen, who was the last English winner in 2001.

Kane, 33, finished ahead of Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappe, who placed second, while Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal completed the top three.

An emotional Kane expressed his gratitude after receiving the award, describing the occasion as particularly special because the ceremony took place in London.

“I am almost speechless. Being here in London has made it extra special,” he said.

“Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I can imagine it was tough this year.

“[There are] some world-class players in the room tonight. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees tonight. [It is] an impressive showing of determination and what hard work can really achieve.”

Kane’s Record-Breaking Season at Bayern Munich

The England captain’s remarkable goal-scoring record proved decisive in his emergence as the leading candidate for the award, despite facing competition from several of Europe’s biggest stars.

Kane scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern across all competitions during the campaign, setting a new single-season scoring record for the German giants. His overall tally rose to 73 goals in 65 matches when his contributions for England were included, alongside eight assists.

His club performance was particularly impressive in the Bundesliga, where he finished as the leading scorer with 36 goals, 17 more than any other player in the competition.

Kane also delivered in Europe, scoring 14 goals in the Champions League, although Bayern’s campaign ended in the semi-finals. In the German Cup, he registered 10 goals, including a hat-trick in the final against Stuttgart, while adding another strike in the German Super Cup.

His 61-goal club tally was 19 higher than that of any other player in Europe’s top five leagues during the season. The achievement also matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s return of 61 goals for Real Madrid in the 2014-15 campaign.

Only Lionel Messi has recorded a higher combined seasonal total among players from Europe’s leading leagues, having scored 82 goals for Barcelona and Argentina in 2011-12.

Kane’s 12 goals for England during the period, including six at the World Cup, helped take his overall tally to 73.

Bayern Star Makes History Despite Major Trophy Setbacks

Kane’s Ballon d’Or triumph is particularly significant because it came despite his failure to win either the World Cup or the Champions League, two competitions that frequently influence the award’s outcome.

England reached the World Cup semi-finals, while Bayern also fell at the same stage of the Champions League. Nevertheless, his extraordinary individual statistics and consistency helped him overcome the disappointment of missing out on those major honours.

The striker also helped Bayern secure the German double, winning the Bundesliga and German Cup. Those achievements significantly increased his career trophy collection, having previously lifted the Bundesliga title in the preceding season.

His success makes him the first Bayern Munich player to win the Ballon d’Or since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claimed the honour in 1981.

Before Kane, his best finish in the voting was 10th, making his rise to the summit an exceptional turnaround in his individual career.

Former England striker Alan Shearer had backed Kane for the award, praising his performances for both club and country.

“The winner of the Ballon d’Or should be Harry Kane,” Shearer told BBC Sport.

“His numbers for the last 12 to 18 months have been absolutely sensational for Bayern and for England. For that reason, he should get it.”

Former England midfielder Danny Murphy also highlighted Kane’s consistency, describing his goal-scoring performances as relentless and arguing that he had established himself as the world’s leading centre-forward over the previous 12 months.

England Captain Joins an Exclusive List of Winners

Kane’s victory adds his name to a select group of British footballers who have won the award since its introduction in 1956.

Matthews became the first recipient in 1956, followed by Charlton in 1966 and Keegan, who won consecutively in 1978 and 1979. Owen was the most recent English winner before Kane, claiming the prize in 2001.

Other winners from the United Kingdom include Scotland’s Denis Law, who received the award in 1964, and Northern Ireland’s George Best, who won it in 1968.

The Ballon d’Or was initially restricted to European footballers before eligibility was expanded to players from around the world in 1995.

Although winning major international or continental competitions has often strengthened a candidate’s chances, Kane’s achievement reinforces the importance of individual excellence in the voting process.

Only a handful of times in the past two decades has the award gone to a player who did not win the World Cup, Champions League, European Championship or Copa America during the relevant period. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been among the notable exceptions.

Yamal had entered the race as one of the leading contenders after his impressive performances for Barcelona and Spain, but Kane’s remarkable goal-scoring campaign ultimately proved decisive.

Can Kane Defend His Ballon d’Or Crown?

With the award secured, attention is already turning to whether Kane can become the first player in several years to win the Ballon d’Or in consecutive seasons.

The Bayern forward has maintained his impressive form at the beginning of the new campaign, scoring 10 goals in his opening 12 appearances for the German club.

His performances for England have further strengthened his case, with six goals in four Nations League matches taking his overall tally to 16 goals in 16 games for club and country.

Bayern have also enjoyed an unbeaten start in both the Bundesliga and Champions League, raising hopes that the club could challenge for multiple major honours.

A potential treble, combined with another prolific season from Kane, could put him in a strong position to retain the award, particularly with no World Cup, European Championship or Copa America scheduled for the season.

However, Barcelona’s Yamal is expected to remain a serious challenger. The Spanish youngster has started the campaign in outstanding form, recording 10 goals and 10 assists in 13 appearances across La Liga and the Champions League.

Barcelona’s prospects in Europe could also influence the next voting race, while Yamal will be eager to turn his consecutive second-place finishes into a first Ballon d’Or triumph.

Mbappe is another contender to watch after making a strong start to the season, with 14 goals in 13 appearances for club and country.

Yamal would be 20 if he wins the award next year, potentially becoming its youngest recipient. Brazil legend Ronaldo currently holds the record, having won the Ballon d’Or at the age of 21 in 1997.

Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are also among the clubs expected to challenge for the Champions League, a competition that could prove decisive in shaping the next Ballon d’Or race.