Harry Kane has become the first English player to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001 after being crowned the world’s best player at a ceremony in London.
The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker is the fifth Englishman to win in total, with Stanley Matthews (1956), Bobby Charlton (1966) and Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) the others.
Denis Law of Scotland (1964) and Northern Ireland’s George Best (1968) are the other winners from the United Kingdom.
Kane scored 61 goals in 51 club matches last season, the most a Bayern player has ever struck in one campaign. Including England matches, it was 73 goals – plus eight assists – in 65 matches.
Only one player at a club in Europe’s top five leagues has ever scored more goals in a season.
But he wins it despite not lifting either of football’s biggest prizes last season, having lost in both the World Cup and Champions League semi-finals.
Remarkably the Three Lions captain becomes the first Bayern player to win the Ballon d’Or since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.
The newly crowned Men’s Ballon d’Or winner, thanked his family in his acceptance speech.
“Thank you very much. I know how much support you give me. We all live these emotions together. I know how much help off the pitch, it allows me to perform and do my best on the pitch.
“My brother Charlie, doesn’t seem like long ago we were kicking a ball around the garden. Taking football, just football mad. I know you say you gave me your footballing ability, so thank you for that.”Mum and dad – what a moment. All those years, the sacrifice, the support you gave me. Taking me to training, coming to watch me play. No matter where it was, even to this day you’re there.”All those traits you have given me have allowed me to be successful and be here tonight.
“My kids back home watching – it is past your bedtime! You’re the reason I do this. This one is a special one. I can’t wait to see you and celebrate with you. I love you very much.
“My wife Kate, my best friend. You’re my biggest supporter. We have done it. You always want the best for me. You sacrifice yourself to help me achieve my reams. It wouldn’t be possible without you,” he said.
Why Kane won it and how unusual it is to do so without securing one of those major trophies.
Kane’s record-breaking 2025-26 season
In term of trophies, Kane may have ‘only’ lifted the German double last season.
But that more than doubled his career trophy total – having also won the Bundesliga the season before.
But in terms of individual output Kane – whose previous best Ballon d’Or finish was 10th – was unmatched last season.
His 61 goals in all competitions for Bayern was 19 more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues managed.
In fact it was the most anyone has recorded since Cristiano Ronaldo also notched 61 for Real Madrid 11 years ago.
He was the Bundesliga’s top scorer with 36 goals – 17 clear of anyone else. In the Champions League he scored 14 for the beaten semi-finalists.
In the German Cup he scored 10 goals, including a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Stuttgart in the final, and he also netted once in the German Super Cup.
No player has ever scored so many goals in a season for Bayern, a club who have had legendary goalscorers like Gerd Muller, Rummenigge and more recently Robert Lewandowski in their ranks.
Kane’s 12 goals for England last season – including six at the World Cup – take him up a total of 73.
Only one player in history from Europe’s top leagues has scored more in a season, Lionel Messi’s 82 for Barcelona and Argentina in 2011-12.
Next on the list are Muller (72 in 1972-73), Cristiano Ronaldo (66 in both 2011-12 and 2014-15), former Brazil striker Ronaldo (66 in 1996-97), Erling Haaland (64 in 2022-23) and Luis Suarez (64 in 2015-16).
Former England striker Alan Shearer recently told BBC Sport: “The winner of the Ballon d’Or should be Harry Kane.
“His numbers for the last 12 to 18 months have been absolutely sensational for Bayern and for England. For that reason, he should get it.”
Another ex-Three Lions player Danny Murphy added: “His goalscoring has been relentless, brilliant. He’s had one of the best seasons of his career and it’ll be a great reward for him if he gets the trophy.
“He’s been brilliant at Bayern Munich since he’s been there, adapted really well and he’s been the best centre forward in the world for the last 12 months.”
With BBC Sport report
Cover Pix by GETTY IMAGES