Harry Kane Claims First Ballon d'Or, Alexia Putellas Wins Third Ballon d'Or Féminin at Delayed Ceremony

At 33 years old, Harry Kane earned the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or following a remarkable year with Bayern Munich. The England striker netted 61 goals across all competitions, including an impressive 36 in 31 Bundesliga matches. As captain of the English national team, he also led them to their best World Cup finish in 60 years, securing third place.

"I'm almost speechless," Kane said emotionally. "Thanks to my teammates here, my family, and Bayern Munich—it's an honor to play for this club."

Kane outpaced notable contenders like French captain Kylian Mbappé and young Spanish talent Lamine Yamal. Yamal, despite finishing third this year and second last year, won his third consecutive Kopa Trophy for best player under 21. Kane also received the Striker of the Year award, which he shared with Mexico's Charlyn Corral from CF Pachuca.

Alexia Putellas Takes Home Ballon d'Or Féminin for Third Time

Alexia Putellas, an attacking midfielder for London City Lionesses (formerly Barcelona) and Spain's national team, claimed the women's Ballon d'Or Féminin for the third time. Her previous wins were in 2021 and 2022, with an ACL injury causing a gap in her winning streak. She credited her recovery to the support of family and friends.

"I had a tough time learning to walk again after my knee injury. You all helped me enjoy football once more and become the player I am today," Putellas shared.

The ceremony saw a heavy Spanish presence, with five of the ten finalists playing for Barcelona. Though other nominees like Manchester City's Khadija Bunny Shaw and Barcelona's Ewa Pajor were in contention, Putellas' impact on her team kept the trophy in Spanish hands. Notably, three-time winner Aitana Bonmatí missed the shortlist due to a broken leg.

Lengthy, Spain-Dominated Ceremony Draws Mixed Reactions

The awards event at London's Palladium faced a 45-minute delay and dragged on, testing the audience's patience. When a commercial break occurred before announcing the women's winner, audible boos broke out. Earlier, the official Ballon d'Or website accidentally posted draft stories revealing Kane, Yamal, and Mbappé as winners hours ahead of the ceremony; those were quickly removed.

Spanish influence was strong across awards, with eight of the 12 recipients connected to La Liga clubs or the Spanish national teams. Besides Putellas, FC Barcelona won best women's club, with goalkeeper Cata Coll, coach Pere Romeu, and rising star Vicky López all honored. Spain’s men's coach Luis de la Fuente and goalkeeper Unai Simón also received awards after Spain's second World Cup triumph.

Other Highlights and Final Standings

Rose Lavelle, the only American nominee for either Ballon d'Or, finished 27th among 30 contenders. The award's European focus often limits U.S. players’ presence. Another USWNT starter, 19-year-old Lily Yohannes from OL Lyonnes, was a finalist for the young talent prize but lost to Barcelona’s Vicky López, who won her second straight Kopa Trophy.

NWSL forwards Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current) and Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride) ranked 10th and 18th respectively. Lionel Messi, possibly in his final Ballon d'Or nomination following his international retirement, placed fifth. The eight-time winner first earned the award in 2009.

World Cup fan favorite Vozinha, Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, was nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year but lost to Spain's Unai Simón.

Full Ballon d'Or Award Recipients:

• Young Talent: Vicky López (Barcelona, Spain), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
• Coach of the Year: Pere Romeu (Barcelona Femení), Luis de la Fuente (Spain men’s national team)
• Goalkeeper of the Year: Cata Coll (Barcelona, Spain), Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao, Spain)
• Club of the Year: FC Barcelona (women’s), Paris Saint-Germain (men’s)
• Top Scorer: Charlyn Corral (CF Pachuca, Mexico), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
• Ballon d'Or Féminin: Alexia Putellas (London City Lionesses, Spain)
• Ballon d'Or: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)