England international Harry Kane, the striker for German club Bayern Munich, won the 2026 Ballon d’Or for the first time in his career, along with the Gerd Müller Trophy for the world’s best men’s striker, at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony held in London on Monday evening.
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The 33-year-old claimed football’s most prestigious individual award after a prolific season with Bayern Munich and the England national team. He became the first English player to win the Ballon d’Or since his compatriot Michael Owen in 2001.
The award was presented to Kane by Brazilian legend Ronaldo, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner in 1997 and 2002, during the ceremony at London’s Palladium Theatre, marking the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or awards.
After receiving the best player award, Kane said: “Without my teammates, this achievement would not have been possible. I also wish my coach, Vincent Kompany, a speedy recovery, and I hope this victory gives him a boost of energy and morale.”
He added: “Since joining Bayern Munich, I have developed as both a player and a person. It is a great honour to play for this club.”
Kane also addressed his England teammates, saying: “We have had an exceptional year. It was not perfect throughout, but we shared many great moments. It has been a genuine honour to captain you, and this award belongs to all of us.”
The English striker prevailed over a field of leading international stars. The final 10 nominees included France’s Kylian Mbappé, Spain’s Lamine Yamal, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Spain’s Rodri, Georgia’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, France’s Michael Olise, France’s Ousmane Dembélé, Norway’s Erling Haaland and Spain’s Fabián Ruiz.
Kane’s victory came after he scored 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England during the 2025–2026 season, including 61 for the German club and 12 for his national team in 65 appearances.
He also scored 36 goals in the Bundesliga, finishing as the league’s top scorer for the third consecutive season. His tally included 14 goals in the UEFA Champions League, 10 in the German Cup and one in the German Super Cup.
Kane helped Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga, the German Cup and the German Super Cup. He also claimed the European Golden Shoe after finishing as the leading scorer across Europe’s domestic leagues.
During the same ceremony, Kane won the Gerd Müller Trophy for the world’s best men’s striker for the second time in his career. He had previously shared the award with France’s Kylian Mbappé in 2024, when both players scored 52 goals.
The Gerd Müller Trophy was presented to Kane by former England striker Alan Shearer, the all-time leading scorer in the English Premier League, alongside British actress Sophie Turner.
In the women’s category, Mexican striker Charlyn Corral of Pachuca won the 2026 award for best women’s striker after an outstanding scoring record for her club and national team.
Corral scored 57 goals for Pachuca and Mexico during 2025. She has also previously won the Mexican Women’s League Golden Boot.
The award for the best striker is named after the late German football legend Gerd Müller, one of the sport’s most prolific goalscorers. It is presented as part of the Ballon d’Or awards to recognise the leading scorers in official matches during the award’s designated assessment period.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony was held in London for the first time, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the award’s launch in 1956. England’s Stanley Matthews was the first recipient.
French magazine France Football organises the Ballon d’Or ceremony in partnership with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), recognising the world’s outstanding players, coaches and clubs.
