What's happened
Harry Kane has won the men's Ballon d’Or at a London ceremony, after scoring 73 goals across the 2025/26 season for Bayern Munich and England. Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or. Kane becomes England’s first Ballon d’Or winner since Michael Owen in 2001, and he thanks teammates, staff and family in a emotional acceptance.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The awards highlight Harry Kane’s continued global impact, consolidating his status as one of England’s top scorers. Kane has now added a historic Ballon d’Or to a season that saw him secure a Bundesliga-German Cup double and a World Cup 3rd-place campaign.
- Alexia Putellas’s win reinforces her standing as a dominant figure in women’s football, following a season with Barcelona and a recent move to London City Lionesses.
- The ceremony’s London setting underscores the global reach and prestige of the Ballon d’Or, potentially boosting interest in both English and Spanish women’s football markets.
How we got here
The Ballon d’Or ceremony was held in London for the first time in recognition of the award’s 70th edition. Kane’s tally includes goals for Bayern Munich and England, where he captained England to a World Cup third-place finish. Putellas claimed the women’s Ballon d’Or after another trophy-filled season with Barcelona and a move to London City Lionesses.
Our analysis
Sky News reports Kane’s victory and notes his 33-year-old status, with additional context from France 24 and Arab News on Putellas’s award and Kane’s World Cup record.
Go deeper
- Will Kane’s Ballon d’Or win boost England’s prospects at the next World Cup?
- How will Putellas’s move to London City Lionesses influence her national team duties?
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