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Kane and Putellas crowned Ballon d'Or winners in London

England's Harry Kane became the first Englishman in 25 years to win the men's award, while Spain's Alexia Putellas claimed the women's prize for a record-equalling third time.

27 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Kane and Putellas crowned Ballon d'Or winners in London — Archive photoPhoto: Bryan Berlin · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony took place in London on Monday, with Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas receiving the sport's most prestigious individual honours. Kane, a striker for Bayern Munich, became the first Englishman to win the men's award since Michael Owen in 2001. Putellas, a Barcelona midfielder, claimed the women's award for the third time in her career, equalling the record.

Kane's achievement came after a record-breaking season in which he scored 73 goals for club and country. He won top vote-getter status among a field that included Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. At the World Cup, Kane captained England to a third-place finish while setting scoring records in the tournament.

Upon receiving the award, Kane expressed his emotion at the moment. "Wow, wow, wow! I am almost speechless," he said on stage. "Being here in London made it extra special, and a good omen for me tonight." Kane acknowledged the path that led to his win, noting his journey "wasn't straightforward" and that he "had to fight my way to be the very best."

Putellas, at age 32, continued her dominance in women's football with her third Ballon d'Or. According to one account, she had faced a four-year wait since her previous win before claiming the award again. According to another, she captained Barcelona to a quadruple that included a third Champions League title in four years.

The women's award marked the sixth consecutive year in which the honour went to a player from a top football nation, according to reporting on the ceremony. Putellas' third win equalled the record for most Ballon d'Or awards won by any woman in the award's history.

The London location of the ceremony held particular significance for Kane's win, as the host city added symbolic weight to his moment as the first Englishman to claim the prize in a quarter-century.

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