Harry Kane Secures Ballon d'Or in Narrow Victory Over Kylian Mbappe
England captain's 73 goals in the 2025-26 season, leading Bayern Munich to a treble and England to a third-place World Cup finish, were key to his triumph.
Harry Kane has been crowned the winner of the Ballon d'Or, narrowly defeating Kylian Mbappe by a margin of just 28 points. The England captain's triumph marks the first time an Englishman has claimed football's most prestigious individual award since Michael Owen in 2001.
Kane's remarkable performance in the 2025-26 season saw him score an impressive 73 goals for Bayern Munich and captain England to a third-place finish in the World Cup. This prolific goal-scoring record was instrumental in Bayern Munich securing a domestic treble.
The full results reveal that Kane amassed 1,055 points from a jury of 100 international journalists, while Mbappe, representing Real Madrid and France, received 1,027 points. This tight finish follows other close contests, such as the 2024 award where Rodri edged out Vinicius Jr by 41 points.
Historically, the Ballon d'Or has seen even narrower margins, including Lionel Messi's seven-point victory over Virgil van Dijk in 2019. Matthias Sammer's one-point win against Ronaldo in 1996 and Sir Bobby Charlton's one-point triumph over Eusebio in 1966 are also notable close calls.
In the current voting system, 40 journalists placed Kane as their top choice, while 23 opted for Mbappe. Lamine Yamal finished third with 881 points, 174 points behind Kane. Rodri and Lionel Messi rounded out the top five with 726 and 612 points, respectively.
The voting process involves journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries, with one journalist per nation casting votes for their top ten players from a list of 30 nominees. First place is worth 15 points, decreasing to one point for tenth place. Voters are instructed to consider individual and collective performances, trophies won, class, and fair play.
Kane, who received the award at the London Palladium, expressed his gratitude, dedicating the trophy to his wife, Kate, and their four children. He acknowledged Kate's significant support and sacrifice, stating, "This is a trophy that we celebrate, not me. This is me and you, it's all the family, all our close-knit team." He also thanked his parents for their years of sacrifice and support.
Prince William congratulated Kane on his achievement, calling it a "fantastic achievement and so deserved," and praising him as a "brilliant captain, a remarkable player and someone who has given football fans across the world so many unforgettable moments."