Kane breaks 25-year English drought to claim top football award

English striker Harry Kane has won the prestigious Ballon d'Or.

He is the first Englishman in 25 years, since Michael Owen in 2001, to be named the winner.

Kane scored 73 goals last season playing for German club giants Bayern Munich and internationally for England.

Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or on Monday, local time in London, becoming the first Englishman to receive the prestigious prize in 25 years.

The Bayern Munich striker scored 73 goals for club and country last season, smashing scoring records in Germany and leading England to a third-place finish at the World Cup this past summer.

Kane was the top vote-getter among nominees who included Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.

Earlier, Spain star Alexia Putellas won her third women's Ballon d'Or after leading her former club Barcelona to multiple trophies last season, including the Women's Champions League.

Putellas, who joined London City Lionesses in the off-season, also helped Spain win the Women's Nations League in December.

The 32-year-old midfielder ended Spain teammate Aitana Bonmati's three-year reign.

Putellas won the prestigious award in back-to-back seasons — 2021 and 2022 — before tearing her ACL and watching Bonmati rise to stardom.

Bonmati, who completed her women's Ballon d'Or three-peat in 2025, was not on this year's shortlist after breaking her leg in December.