Harry Kane has won the 2026 men's Ballon d’Or after an outstanding season with Bayern Munich and England. The England captain claimed football's most prestigious individual award at a ceremony held at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, becoming the first Englishman to win it since Michael Owen in 2001.
Spain's Alexia Putellas also had a memorable night, winning the Women's Ballon d’Or for the third time in her career. The ceremony celebrated some of the finest individual performances in men's and women's football, with awards presented to players, coaches and clubs.
Here is a look at the main winners, the men's top 10 rankings and the other awards from the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Harry Kane Wins His First Ballon d’Or
Harry Kane's long wait for one of football's biggest individual honours is finally over. The Bayern Munich striker finished ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal to win the 2026 men's Ballon d’Or.
Kane's goalscoring form was a major reason for his success. He scored 73 goals for club and country during the 2025/26 campaign, helping Bayern Munich retain their Bundesliga title and complete a domestic treble.
He also finished as the Bundesliga's leading scorer for the third consecutive season and scored 14 goals in the UEFA Champions League as Bayern reached the semi-finals.
The award is another major milestone for a player who spent years building his reputation as one of Europe's most reliable goalscorers. It also ends a 25-year wait for an English winner, with Michael Owen the last Englishman to claim the men's prize in 2001.
Kane's victory came ahead of two of the most talked-about names in world football, Mbappé and Yamal, who finished second and third respectively.
Alexia Putellas Wins the Women's Ballon d’Or
Alexia Putellas won the Women's Ballon d’Or for the third time, adding another major individual honour to her career.
The Spanish midfielder previously won the award in 2021 and 2022. Her latest victory puts her among the most successful players in the history of the women's award.
Putellas finished ahead of Barcelona teammate Ewa Pajor, who placed second, and Manchester City's Khadija Shaw, who came third.
Her achievement also continues Spain's strong run in the women's category. Spanish players have dominated the award in recent years, reflecting the country's influence on women's football at club and international level.
2026 Men's Ballon d’Or Top 10 Rankings
The men's rankings featured some of the biggest names in world football. Kane took the top position, while Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé finished second and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal placed third.
Here is the final top 10:
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, France)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
- Rodri (Manchester City/Barcelona, Spain)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain, Georgia)
- Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
- Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, France)
- Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain, Spain)
The result places Kane above several established stars and younger players who were also in contention for the award. Mbappé and Yamal completed the podium, while Messi remained among the leading names in the final standings.
Full List of Other 2026 Ballon d’Or Winners
The Ballon d’Or ceremony recognises more than the best men's and women's players. Several other awards celebrate young talent, goalkeepers, coaches, clubs and contributions beyond football.
Here are the winners from the 2026 ceremony.
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Men's Ballon d’Or | Harry Kane |
| Women's Ballon d’Or | Alexia Putellas |
| Men's Young Talent of the Year | Lamine Yamal |
| Women's Young Talent of the Year | Vicky López |
| Men's Goalkeeper of the Year | Unai Simón |
| Women's Goalkeeper of the Year | Cata Coll |
| Men's Coach of the Year | Luis de la Fuente |
| Women's Coach of the Year | Pere Romeu |
| Men's Club of the Year | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Women's Club of the Year | FC Barcelona |
| Men's Striker of the Year | Harry Kane |
| Women's Striker of the Year | Charlyn Corral |
| Sócrates Award | Bukayo Saka |
Lamine Yamal and Vicky López Recognised as Young Talents
Lamine Yamal won the men's young talent award, adding another honour to his growing collection. The Barcelona forward has established himself as one of the most exciting young players in football, competing with experienced stars for major individual recognition.
Vicky López took home the women's young talent award. Her success further strengthened Barcelona's presence at the ceremony, with the club collecting several honours across the women's categories.
Unai Simón and Cata Coll Win Goalkeeper Awards
Unai Simón was named Men's Goalkeeper of the Year, while Barcelona's Cata Coll won the women's award.
Both players earned recognition for their performances between the posts. Their awards highlighted the importance of goalkeeping in a season otherwise dominated by discussions about goals, attacking performances and individual brilliance.
Coaches and Clubs Take Home Major Honours
Luis de la Fuente won Men's Coach of the Year for his work with Spain, while Barcelona coach Pere Romeu received the women's coaching award.
Paris Saint-Germain was named Men's Club of the Year, and FC Barcelona won the women's club award. The results reflected the influence of both clubs across the men's and women's games.
Harry Kane and Charlyn Corral Win Striker Awards
Kane enjoyed a double victory, collecting the men's Ballon d’Or and Men's Striker of the Year award.
Charlyn Corral won the Women's Striker of the Year award after an impressive goalscoring campaign with Pachuca. Her recognition placed her among the leading attacking players in women's football.
Bukayo Saka Receives the Sócrates Award
England and Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka received the Sócrates Award, which recognises humanitarian work and social contributions.
The award brings attention to the role footballers can play beyond the pitch, including their efforts to support communities and make a positive difference in people's lives.
Why Harry Kane's Ballon d’Or Victory Matters
Kane's win represents a significant moment for English football. The striker has spent much of his career being recognised for his goalscoring ability, but the Ballon d’Or gives him one of the game's most prestigious individual honours.
His success also shows how consistent performances across a full season can influence the final voting. Kane delivered goals for Bayern Munich, helped the club secure domestic silverware and remained productive in European competition.
For Bayern, his victory is another source of recognition for a team that enjoyed a successful campaign. For England, it gives the country its first men's Ballon d’Or winner since Owen's triumph a quarter of a century ago.
Putellas's third women's award was another major storyline from the night. Her achievement underlines her lasting influence on women's football and adds another chapter to her career at the highest level.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony delivered memorable results across both men's and women's football. Harry Kane claimed his first men's award after a prolific season, while Alexia Putellas added a third Women's Ballon d’Or to her collection.
Lamine Yamal, Vicky López, Unai Simón, Cata Coll and several other winners also received recognition for their performances. With major clubs and national-team coaches among the honourees, the ceremony celebrated a wide range of achievements across the sport.
Kane's victory will be remembered as a landmark moment for English football, while Putellas's success further strengthens her legacy in the women's game.
