Ballon d’Or 2026: Harry Kane becomes 5th English player to win award in history

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has become the fifth English player in history to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.

Kane achieved the milestone on Monday night after winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London. He finished ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.

The 33-year-old joins an exclusive group of English footballers who have previously won the award. The other four are Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen.

Kane’s victory comes 25 years after Michael Owen became the previous English winner in 2001. The Bayern Munich striker has now brought the award back to England while representing the Three Lions.

The England captain enjoyed an outstanding season, scoring 73 goals and providing eight assists in all competitions for club and country.

His individual success was also accompanied by team achievements, as he helped Bayern Munich win the 2025–26 Bundesliga title, the German Cup and the German Super Cup.

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Kane’s Ballon d’Or triumph marks another major milestone in his career, recognising his remarkable performances and placing him among the English players who have won football’s most prestigious individual award.