Harry Kane wins the 2026 Ballon d'Or

On October 26, 2026, the 70th edition of the Ballon d'Or ceremony took place at the London Palladium. For the first time in its history, the prestigious award ceremony was held in London rather than France. Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane was awarded the Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Englishman to win the title in 25 years and only the fifth in history. Kane's victory followed an exceptional 2025/26 season where he secured a domestic treble with Bayern and netted 73 goals across all competitions, alongside a third-place finish for England at the World Cup.

Kylian Mbappé finished second in the voting, followed by Lamine Yamal in third. Other top-ten finishers included Rodri, Lionel Messi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland, Michael Olise, and Fabián Ruiz. In the women's category, Alexia Putellas claimed her third Ballon d'Or, while Luis de la Fuente was named coach of the year, Unai Simón was recognized as best goalkeeper, and Paris Saint-Germain was honored as the top team.