Kane Takes Ballon d'Or With Record 73-Goal Season
The Bayern Munich striker broke the single-season scoring record and became the first English winner of the award in 25 years.
By Lucas Murphy ·
Harry Kane accepted the 2026 Ballon d'Or in London on Monday, ending a long pursuit of football’s top individual prize. The England captain and Bayern Munich forward earned the honor after a season that produced the highest goal totals in modern professional soccer.
Kane finished the campaign with 73 goals for club and country. For Bayern, he scored 61 goals in 51 matches across all competitions. His performance helped the German team win both the domestic league and cup titles. He added six goals for England during the World Cup, guiding the team to the semi-finals.
“Wow, wow, wow!” Kane said after taking the stage. “I am almost speechless. Being here in London makes it extra special. It feels like a good omen for me tonight. Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I can imagine it was tough this year.”
Kane is the first English player to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001. He joined a small group of players who have dominated the voting despite strong competition. Kylian Mbappe set new World Cup scoring records, and Lamine Yamal helped Spain win the tournament. Voters selected Kane for his sustained performance across the full season.
His path to the award followed a long career development. He moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich in 2023. Early in his career, he struggled to secure a starting role and went out on multiple loans. He evolved into a center forward who could score with his head, both feet, and from long range. He also created chances for teammates.
Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d'Or for the third time. She won the treble with Barcelona in the 2025-26 season and added the Spanish Super Cup. Putellas transferred to London City Lionesses in July after 14 years at the Spanish club.
Kane enters the next phase of his career at age 33. He remains England’s all-time leading scorer and holds the record for most goals in a single World Cup tournament. The award adds a major individual trophy to his professional record.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
