The best football players in the world convened to London’s Palladium Theatre for the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony. The decision to stage ​France Football’s grand evening in England was a tribute to Stanley Matthews, the award’s first winner in 1956. The 2025-2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony embraced Spain’s domination as Spaniards scooped the trophies awarded to the best young players, the best coaches and also the best goalkeepers.

Arsenal and England international winger Bukayo Saka then took to the stage to receive the Socrates Award, which rewards the humanitarian work carried ouy by a footballer. Saka is heavily involved with the BigShoe foundation, which funds medical surgeries for children. Champions League winners FC Barcelona Femeni and Paris Saint-Germain were awarded the Club of the Year accolades.

Harry Kane received the inaugural Striker of the Year award as Pachuca’s Charlyn Corral was handed the Women’s Striker of the Team accolade. The Bayern Munich striker succeeded PSG centre-forward Ousmane Dembélé in winning the ultimate individual prize in world football. The 2025-2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or went to Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas for the third time after previous wins in 2021 and 2022. Here are the winners from Monday night’s ceremony:

Men’s Young Talent of the Year: Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona, Spain)

Women’s Young Talent of the Year: Vicky Lopez (FC Barcelona, Spain)

Women’s Coach of the Year: Pere Romeu (FC Barcelona)

Men’s Coach of the Year: Luis de la Fuente (Spain)

Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Cata Coll (FC Barcelona, Spain)

Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao, Spain)

Sócrates Award: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, England)

Women’s Club of the Year: FC Barcelona

Men’s Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain

Women’s Striker of the Year: Charlyn Corral (Pachuca, Mexico)

Men’s Striker of the Year: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)

Women’s Ballon d’Or: Alexia Putellas (FC Barcelona / London City Lionesses, Spain)

Men’s Ballon d’Or: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)