Ballon d’or 2026: Harry Kane wins ahead of Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal; first Englishman in 25 years

Harry Kane has become the first Englishman to win the Ballon d'Or in 25 years after beating Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal to the award in London on Monday.

Kane scored 73 goals in a breathtaking 2025-26 season across all competitions for Bayern Munich and England, enough to earn him the European Golden Shoe award.

In Germany last season, Kane inspired Bayern to a Bundesliga and DFB Pokal double. His 14 goals in the Champions League last season -- where Bayern fell at the semifinal stage to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain -- was bettered only by Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid(15).

He captained England at the World Cup where they finished third, their best result since winning it in 1966, scoring six goals along the way including two late strikes to rescue his side against DR Congo and a strike against Mexico at the Azteca in the round of 16.

This season, Kane equalled a record held by Peter Shilton since 1990 for the most England caps after a 125th appearance. Already his country's leading scorer, he has extended that tally to 91 goals.