Quick answer: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich and England) won the 2026 Ballon d’Or at the London Palladium on Monday, 26 October. He finished ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal and is the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001. Alexia Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time, after 2021 and 2022.
Who won the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
Kane won after scoring 73 goals for club and country last season. He starred for Bayern in the Bundesliga and Champions League and led England to the World Cup semi-finals. Ronaldo presented him with the trophy, and Wembley’s arch and Bayern’s Allianz Arena were lit up in his honour.
On stage, Kane said he was “almost speechless” and called the award “beyond my wildest dreams.” He thanked his Bayern and England teammates and recalled his long road to the top, which included several loan spells early in his career.
Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026: top 10
| Rank | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Kane |
| 2 | Kylian Mbappé |
| 3 | Lamine Yamal |
| 4 | Rodri |
| 5 | Lionel Messi |
| 6 | Khvicha Kvaratskhelia |
| 7 | Ousmane Dembélé |
| 8 | Erling Haaland |
| 9 | Michael Olise |
| 10 | Fabián Ruiz |
Mbappé became the all-time top scorer in World Cup history this year, with 22 goals including 10 at this tournament. Yamal won the World Cup with Spain and took the men’s young player award. In his speech, Yamal said he would have preferred his Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsí to win it: “This prize should have been for him.”
Alexia Putellas wins her third Women’s Ballon d’Or
The Spain midfielder won again after a season in which she was named UEFA Women’s Champions League Player of the Season, with seven goals and seven assists in Barcelona’s European campaign. She is moving to London City Lionesses for 2026/27. Barcelona dominated the women’s awards.
Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026: top 10
| Rank | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexia Putellas (Spain) | Barcelona / London City Lionesses |
| 2 | Ewa Pajor (Poland) | Barcelona |
| 3 | Khadija Shaw (Jamaica) | Manchester City |
| 4 | Melchie Dumornay (Haiti) | OL Lyonnes |
| 5 | Patri Guijarro (Spain) | Barcelona |
| 6 | Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway) | Barcelona |
| 7 | Pernille Harder (Denmark) | Bayern München |
| 8 | Clàudia Pina (Spain) | Barcelona |
| 9 | Alessia Russo (England) | Arsenal |
| 10 | Temwa Chawinga (Malawi) | Kansas City Current |
All 2026 Ballon d’Or award winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Men’s Ballon d’Or | Harry Kane |
| Women’s Ballon d’Or | Alexia Putellas |
| Men’s Young Player | Lamine Yamal |
| Women’s Young Player | Vicky López |
| Men’s Striker | Harry Kane |
| Women’s Striker | Charlyn Corral |
| Men’s Goalkeeper | Unai Simón |
| Women’s Goalkeeper | Cata Coll |
| Men’s Coach | Luis de la Fuente (Spain) |
| Women’s Coach | Pere Romeu (Barcelona) |
| Men’s Club | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Women’s Club | Barcelona |
| Sócrates Award | Bukayo Saka |
A historic night in London
- This was the first Ballon d’Or ceremony held outside France, staged in London to honour Stanley Matthews, the first winner in 1956.
- Kate Scott and Thierry Henry hosted, and Michael Owen, the last English winner, was in the audience.
- The ceremony started about 45 minutes late, reportedly because of London traffic.
- Hours earlier, the official Ballon d’Or website mistakenly published three articles naming Kane, Mbappé and Yamal as the winner. All three were taken down before the result was announced.
FAQ
Who won the Ballon d’Or 2026?
Harry Kane won the men’s award, and Alexia Putellas won the women’s award.
When was the last time an English player won the Ballon d’Or?
Michael Owen in 2001. Kane ends a 25-year wait.
Where was the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony?
At the London Palladium, the first time the ceremony has been held outside France.
How many Ballon d’Or titles has Alexia Putellas won?
Three: 2021, 2022 and 2026.
Who finished second and third?
Kylian Mbappé finished second and Lamine Yamal third.
Sources: Sky Sports, ESPN, UEFA.com, Yahoo Sports; Google Trends US.
