England and Bayern Munich’s star Harry Kane has been crowned the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or winner, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to claim football’s most prestigious individual honor, while Spain’s Alexia Putellas celebrates a record-equaling third Women’s Ballon d’Or.

The stars shone brightest in London on Monday, October 26, as Kane’s extraordinary season earned him the ultimate individual recognition, ending England’s long wait since Michael Owen won the award in 2001.

The Bayern Munich striker delivered a phenomenal 73 goals for club and country, finishing as Europe’s top scorer and rewriting scoring records in Germany and on the World Cup stage.

At Bayern, Kane inspired a Bundesliga and German Cup double, even scoring a hat-trick in the German Cup final against Stuttgart. He also helped England secure third place at the World Cup, scoring six goals to become the nation’s all-time leading World Cup scorer.

But behind the glory lies a story of resilience.

Reflecting on his journey, the 33-year-old spoke emotionally about the struggles that shaped his career, urging young players to believe in the power of hard work, determination and self-belief.

“My journey wasn’t straightforward,” Kane said, recalling how he had to fight through setbacks before reaching the summit of world football.

His triumph was followed by Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi in the voting.

The victory carries special significance for England, with Kane expressing pride in bringing the coveted trophy back to the country. England coach Thomas Tuchel also praised his captain, saying the national team was fortunate to have him as its leader.

Alexia Putellas Reigns Supreme With Third Ballon d’Or

While Kane celebrated a historic breakthrough, Alexia Putellas reclaimed her place among women’s football’s greatest, winning her third Women’s Ballon d’Or after an outstanding campaign.

The Spanish midfielder, now playing for London City Lionesses after leaving Barcelona, becomes a record-equaling three-time winner, having previously claimed the award in 2021 and 2022.

Putellas helped Barcelona secure multiple trophies, including the Women’s Champions League, and played a key role in Spain’s Women’s Nations League triumph.

Her latest victory marks a remarkable comeback after an anterior cruciate ligament injury disrupted her career and teammate Aitana Bonmatí rose to dominate the women’s game.

Bonmatí, who won three consecutive awards from 2023 to 2025, was absent from this year’s shortlist after suffering a broken leg in December.

Putellas encouraged aspiring footballers to pursue their dreams with passion and belief, reminding them that setbacks need not mark the end of their journey.

As Kane ends England’s quarter-century wait and Putellas adds another crown to her collection, the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony delivered a powerful reminder: greatness is built on talent, sacrifice, resilience and the courage to keep believing.