Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has been crowned the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner, becoming the first Englishman to claim football’s most prestigious individual award since Michael Owen in 2001.
The award caps a remarkable year for the England captain, whose achievement ends a 25-year wait for an English winner of the coveted prize.
Kane’s triumph places him among the elite names in world football, following in the footsteps of Owen, who won the award while playing for Liverpool in 2001.
The Bayern Munich forward has established himself as one of Europe’s leading strikers, with his goalscoring record and consistency strengthening his standing among the game’s top players.
His latest achievement is also a major milestone for English football, which has waited more than two decades to see one of its players lift the individual honour.
Kane’s victory marks another significant chapter in a career defined by goals, leadership and sustained performances at the highest level.
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