“Anything is possible with hard work, when no one else is watching, to go through the ups and downs, to learn through resilience, determination and self-belief,” an emotional Kane said. “My journey wasn’t straightforward. I wasn’t the kid who went straight to the top. I had to experience the downs,” he added. “I had to fight my way to be the very best right now. I hope that can give you inspiration as well.”

HARRY KANE IS THE 2026 BALLON D’OR! #ballondor https://t.co/k3CUlwLF1E

— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) October 26, 2026

Kane scored a hat-trick in German Cup final and led Bayern to the Champions League semi-finals. At the World Cup, he scored six times to pass Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading scorer in the tournament. He also entered the top-five highest goalscorers in World Cup history overall. England lost to Argentina in the semifinals but beat Mbappé’s France for third place, their best World Cup finish in 60 years.

The last English player to win the trophy was Michael Owen in 2001. Blackpool legend Sanley Mathews was the first Englishman to win it in 1956, followed by Manchester United great Bobby Charlton in 1966. Kevin Keegan won it in 1978 and 1979. However, Kane is the first Englishman to win it in its current avatar in which players active in any part of the world is eligible to compete. At the time that Mathews, Charlton and Keegan won it, the Ballon d’Or was only awarded to European players. Owen won it after the award was expanded to include players of all nationalities but active only in European club football. It was only in 2007 that it became a global prize.

Kane is also the first Bayern player since 1981, and the fourth overall, to have won the award. He is also the first non-German Bayern player to have won it, with the others being Gerd Muller (1970), Franz Beckenbauer (1972, 1976) and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (1980, 1981).