LONDON – Harry Kane has become the first English winner of the Ballon d’Or in 25 years after being honoured at the London Palladium on Monday night, reported PA Media/dpa.
Michael Owen was the last English player to receive the prestigious individual accolade in 2001, but Kane’s remarkable haul of 73 goals for club and country last season earned him the award from French magazine France Football.
Bayern Munich forward Kane was a popular winner in the capital, following in the footsteps of Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen as an English Ballon d’Or winner.
Barcelona and Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe provided strong competition for Kane.
The trio were bizarrely announced as winners on the official website hours before the ceremony in London.
Further chaos followed, with the ceremony delayed by 30 minutes and starting at 8.30 pm (1930 GMT).
Just over two hours later, Kane received the 70th Ballon d’Or to enormous cheers and chants of “Harry” inside the London Palladium, minutes after London City midfielder Alexia Putellas claimed the women’s prize for a third time. – October 27, 2026