Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas take top honours at Ballon d’Or ceremony

England’s Harry Kane and Spain’s Alexia Putellas have taken the top awards at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London.

Kane has become the first English winner of the Ballon d’Or in 25 years. Michael Owen was the last player from England to receive the prestigious individual accolade in 2001, but Kane’s incredible 73-goal haul last season for club and country earned him the award from French magazine France Football.

The England captain scored 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern across all competitions as the German side completed a domestic league and cup double. He led England to the World Cup semi-finals, scoring six goals.

“Wow, I’m almost speechless,” Kane said on stage. “First of all, thanks again to France Football and the Ballon d’Or for this amazing event. Being in London, it is extra special, it felt like a good omen.

“Thank you to everyone for voting for me. I can imagine it was very tough. Thank you to everyone that voted for me.”

Kane, who thanked England, Bayern and former club Tottenham, said: “To my wife Kate, my best friend. We’ve been through ups and downs. You are my biggest support and I felt like you wanted this more than me.

“The anxious wait… Here it is, we done it and you always want the best for me. You sacrifice yourself to make me achieve my dreams. This wouldn’t be possible without you and it is something we can celebrate, not me. We’re a team. I can’t wait to celebrate tonight. I love you.”

He added: “It’s just the journey. For any young boy or girl who wants to achieve their dream, anything is possible.

“I hope my journey, it wasn’t straightforward, I didn’t go straight to the top, I had to experience a lot of loan moves and fight my way to get to where I am now. I hope that can give you inspiration and thank you very much.”

Putellas won the domestic treble and the Champions League with Barcelona in the 2025-26 campaign before moving to Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses in July.

She becomes the second women’s player, after international teammate Aitana Bonmati, to win the award for a third time.

The start of the evening was mired in controversy when organisers France Football accidentally posted three articles that seemed to indicate one of Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe or Harry Kane had won the evening’s top men’s prize.

The ceremony was further delayed by 45 minutes as football’s biggest stars struggled to get to London’s Palladium due to heavy traffic in the city.