- England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or at a ceremony at the London Palladium on Monday, becoming the first Englishman to secure world football's most prestigious individual award in 25 years.
- Downing Street congratulated Kane on his “extraordinary achievement”, with No 10 hinting that the 33-year-old striker could be in line for a knighthood in recognition of his service to English football.
- Kane claimed the award ahead of finalists Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal after a remarkable 2025-26 season during which he scored 73 goals for club and country, won two trophies with Bayern Munich, and led England to third place at the World Cup.
- Presented with the trophy by his childhood idol, former Brazil forward Ronaldo, an emotional Kane described the moment as beyond his wildest dreams and dedicated the honour to his wife, family, and support team.
- Tributes flooded in following the ceremony, with England manager Thomas Tuchel praising Kane's leadership, while Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas collected the women's Ballon d'Or for a record-equalling third time.
IN FULL
