Harry Kane Wins 2025-26 Men's Ballon d'Or Following Historic 73-Goal Season

The Bayern Munich and England striker becomes the first English player to take home the prestigious trophy since 2001.

Summary

Harry Kane has won the 2025-26 men's Ballon d'Or edging out runner-up Kylian Mbappé and third-place Lamine Yamal

The England captain tallied 73 goals across 65 appearances last season leading Bayern Munich to a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal domestic double

Kane becomes the first Bayern Munich recipient since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981 and the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001

Bayern Munich and England forward Harry Kane has officially been awarded the 2025-26 men’s Ballon d’Or, claiming the coveted individual honor for the first time in his career. First reported by Dan Kilpatrick and Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, the 33-year-old striker received the award at the London Palladium ceremony ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.

The honor caps a historic campaign in which Kane scored 73 goals in 65 matches across all competitions for club and country—a single-season total second this century only to Lionel Messi’s 82 goals in 2011-12. Kane spearheaded Bayern Munich’s domestic double, registering 36 goals in 31 Bundesliga fixtures alongside a hat-trick in the DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart, while also securing the German Super Cup and the men’s striker of the year award. On the international stage, the captain led England to a third-place finish at the World Cup in North America with six tournament goals.

Presented with the golden trophy by Brazilian football legend Ronaldo, Kane delivered an emotional acceptance speech acknowledging his family, teammates, and Bayern manager Vincent Kompany. The milestone marks the first time an English footballer has won the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001, as well as the first Bayern Munich player honored since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claimed back-to-back awards in 1980 and 1981.