Harry Kane has been awarded the 2026 Ballon d’Or, becoming the second English player to win the prestigious trophy after Michael Owen in 2001. The award ceremony, traditionally held in Paris, was moved to London in tribute to Stanley Matthews, the first Ballon d’Or winner in 1956. Kane, the centre‑forward for Bayern Munich, defeated Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal of Barcelona and French forward Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid to claim the title. He is the first player in the club’s history to win the award and the second Englishman to do so. During the 2025‑26 Bundesliga season, Kane helped Bayern secure the league title and set a new record by becoming the fastest player to reach 100 goals in the German league, achieving the milestone in just 98 appearances. He also played a pivotal role in England’s third‑place finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Ballon d’Or was presented by a jury of journalists representing the 100 highest‑ranked FIFA member nations. The award ceremony was accompanied by photographs from the event, including images of Kane, Lamine Yamal, and Kylian Mbappé.
Article source: Sport Mediaset | Image credit: Sport Mediaset