Harry Kane claimed the 2026 Ballon d'Or at the London Palladium on October 26, 2026, becoming the first English footballer to win the award in 25 years. The Bayern Munich striker edged Kylian Mbappé by just 28 points in one of the closest finishes in the award's history, finishing with 1,055 points to Mbappé's 1,027. Lamine Yamal also featured among the leading contenders but could not overhaul Kane's tally.

Kane's triumph was built on a remarkable 2025-26 season in which he scored 73 goals across all competitions for Bayern Munich. That output proved decisive in separating him from a field that included Mbappé and Yamal, with Lionel Messi finishing fifth in the final standings. Interestingly, cricket icon Virat Kohli was among those who sent Kane a congratulatory message following the announcement, a gesture that left the England captain visibly moved.

The cross-sport connection drew considerable attention, with Kane acknowledging that receiving word from Kohli was a moment that genuinely surprised him. Having long admired Kohli's standing in world sport, Kane described the message as one that made him starstruck despite being at the peak of his own career.

What is the background to the Kane-Kohli connection?

The bond between Kane and Kohli spans sport and geography. Kohli is widely regarded as one of cricket's greatest batters, a reputation built on performances such as his 82 off 51 balls against Australia in the 2016 T20 World Cup, an innings that guided India to victory in a high-pressure encounter. That knock remains one of the most celebrated in the tournament's history, and it is the kind of performance that has earned Kohli admirers well beyond cricket's traditional boundaries.

Kane and Kohli are also reported to have met in London in May 2019, a meeting that is said to have laid the foundation for their mutual respect. Hence, when Kane lifted the Ballon d'Or, Kohli's congratulatory message carried the weight of a genuine sporting friendship rather than a routine courtesy. Tom Brady is among the other global sports figures who have previously spoken about Kohli's cross-sport appeal, further illustrating how the Indian batter's influence extends into football and American sport alike. For Kane, receiving recognition from a figure of Kohli's stature on the night of his greatest individual honour added a dimension to the celebration that went beyond football.