Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas have emerged victorious as the Men and Women’s winners of the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Kane’s success comes after he scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich last season as the German champions achieved the domestic treble, whilst he has already scored 10 goals in 12 appearances in all competitions this season.
He has also scored 18 goals across the last 13 months and was part of England’s run to third place at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, which marked their best finish at a major tournament since they won the World Cup in 1966.
Kane’s success also meant that he is the first Englishman to win the prestigious gong since Michael Owen in 2001, as the ceremony took place in London, United Kingdom, which marked a historic move away from France where the ceremony had previously been held since its inception.
The London-born striker is the fifth Englishman to achieve the Ballon d’Or after Sir Stanley Matthews won the inaugural gong in 1956, before Bobby Charlton in 1966, Kevin Keegan in 1978 & 79 then Owen in 2001.
His goalscoring exploits also saw him win the Men’s Gerd Muller Trophy which is awarded to the best striker in football across the previous season.
Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice were the two other England players on the shortlist but they finished 11th and 15th respectively.
Arsenal and England winger, Bukayo Saka walked away with the Socrates Award for his work to help disadvantaged young people.
Putellas meanwhile claimed her third Ballon d’Or after a successful season saw her score 20 goals in 43 appearances as Barcelona achieved a fourth quadruple in their history, and she has already produced three goals and one assists in seven appearances this season at London City Lionesses.
The 32-year-old Spaniard has also scored six goals for Spain in the last 12 months, during which they won the 2025 UEFA Women’s Nations League title and qualified automatically for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where they will seek to defend their title.
Putellas’ success also meant that she equalled the record three Ballon d’Or Feminin gongs won by her Spain teammate, Aitana Bonmati who had won the last three editions, with Putellas’ last win in this category having came in 2022 just one year after she claimed her first gong in 2021.
Spain’s Unai Simons and Cata Coll walked away with the Men and Women’s Yashin Trophies after successful years, in which Simon won the FIFA World Cup with Spain and Coll achieved a quadruple with Barcelona and won the Women’s Nations League title with her country.
Span achieved a Coach of the Year double, as Luis de la Fuente won the Men’s gong after he led Spain to World Cup glory, whilst Pere Romeu won the Women’s gong after he led Barcelona Feminine to a quadruple.
Barcelona and Spain achieved a Kopa Trophy double as Lamine Yamal walked away with the men’s gong for a third consecutive year, whilst Vicky Lopez collected the women’s award.
Yamal and Lopez’s fellow Barcelona and Spain teammates, Pau Cubarsi and Clara Serrajordi finished as runner-ups in their respective categories to further consolidate the club and country’s success in the Kopa Trophy.
Barcelona took home the Women’s Club of the Year award after a quadruple-winning season, whilst PSG took home the men’s equivalent after they won Ligue 1, Trophee des Champions, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Intercontinental Cup and defended their Champions League title last season.
Mexico’s Charlyn Corral won the Women’s Gerd Muller Trophy after she scored 42 goals in 42 appearances for Pachuca, plus 14 goals for her country in the last 12 months.
List of Winners
Men’s Ballon d’Or – Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)
Women’s Ballon d’Or – Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/London City Lionesses & Spain)
Men’s Kopa Trophy – Lamine Yamal (Barcelona & Spain)
Women’s Kopa Trophy – Vicky Lopez (Barcelona & Spain)
Men’s Yashin Trophy – Unai Simons (Athletico Bilbao & Spain)
Women’s Yashin Trophy – Cata Coll (Barcelona & Spain)
Men’s Gerd Muller Trophy – Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)
Women’s Gerd Muller Trophy – Charlyn Corral (Pachuca & Mexico)
Men’s Club of the Year – PSG (France)
Women’s Club of the Year – Barcelona (Spain)
Men’s Coach of the Year – Luis de la Fuente (Spain)
Women’s Coach of the Year – Pere Romeu (Barcelona)
Socrates Award – Bukayo Saka (Arsenal & England)