Harry Kane has made history, becoming just the fifth English player to win the men’s Ballon d’Or and the first since Michael Owen in 2001.
Meanwhile, Barcelona superstar Alexia Putellas claimed her third women’s Ballon d’Or following another incredible season with the Spanish giants.
All the winners from football’s biggest night are below.
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MENS BALLON D’OR WINNER
England and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time in his career.
Kane struck an incredible 73 goals in 65 games for club and country last season, helping guide the German giants to a league and cup double and England to the World Cup semi-finals.
And it was an emotional Kane who accepted the award, with the Englishman admitting he was ‘almost speechless’.
Kane was quick to thank his Bayern Munich teammates after being crowned the winner.
“Thank you to everyone who voted for me, I can imagine it was tough, so thank you to everyone who voted for me,” Kane said.
“Congratulations to all the winners, all the nominees tonight.
“My Bayern Munich teammates, Michael, Upa, Luis.”
Kane also took the opportunity to thank his former club Tottenham, where he spent much of his career before making the move to Germany.
“I want to say thank you to Tottenham Hotspur as well. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Tottenham for sure,” Kane said.
“I was there from 11 years old. All the guidance, all the coaches, you allow me to live my dream. So for sure, without all those moments together, all the ups and downs have led me to this moment today.”
And the England captain also spoke about the honour of representing his country, whilst thanking his teammates and national team manager Thomas Tuchel.
“To all my England teammates, it was truly an honour to captain you and lead you, so this one is for all of us for sure,” Kane said.
“To Thomas Tuchel and the staff, the leadership, the way you drive us, the way you push standards, it is an honour to represent you, everyone at the FA, it is truly an honour to be your captain.”
Kane becomes the first English player to win football’s biggest individual award since Michael Owen in 2001.
He also becomes just the fifth Englishman in history to win the Ballon d’Or, joining Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.
Kane has beaten Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe, who was one of his main rivals the award after an incredible year.
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WOMENS BALLON D’OR WINNER
Alexia Putellas picked up her third Ballon d’Or in her new home city of London on Monday, crowning a spectacular return to the top of women’s football after injury cut her down in her prime.
Putellas previously picked up the prize for the best player in the world in 2021 and 2022 as the creative heartbeat of an all-conquering Barcelona side.
But an anterior cruciate ligament tear just as she was preparing for Spain’s bid to win Euro 2022 derailed her rise to global stardom.
Putellas recovered to play a bit part role in Spain’s World Cup triumph a year later, but was overshadowed by team-mate Aitana Bonmati for both club and country as it took nearly two years to rediscover her best form.
“Ever since I suffered the injury, I’ve been trying to enjoy every moment as if it were my last, because you never know if it’ll happen again,” Putellas told AFP in an interview last month.
Bonmati took on the mantle of the world’s best player, becoming a three-time Ballon d’Or winner between 2023 and 2025 until she was also sidelined by a leg break.
With the emphasis back on Putellas, she rose to the challenge, helping Barcelona regain the Champions League last season in dominant fashion.
“I never felt that the (Ballon d’Or) trophy was ‘mine’… Having already experienced it once, I’m able to enjoy it even more now,” she added.
Having achieved all that she could in Catalonia, Putellas embarked on a new adventure, joining London City Lionesses.
Owned by American businesswoman Michele Kang, the Lionesses are aiming to break the mould as the only fully independent team in England’s top division.
“It’s a complete change in my life. It’s a constant, daily learning process: the culture, the language, moving to a new country, a new city,” said the 32-year-old.
“I knew that if I ever had to end my time at Barca, it wouldn’t make much sense to repeat what I’d already experienced in the next chapter, mainly because it’s impossible.
“It had to be something completely different. It’s practically a brand-new club, with everything yet to be written, so I’m trying to bring that winning culture and mentality with me.”
The Putellas effect is already being felt in the English Women’s Super League with the Lionesses sat just behind Chelsea and Manchester City at the top of the table and ahead of traditional giants Arsenal.
The move could also benefit Spain’s chances of retaining the World Cup next year with their star player facing a lesser workload without European football this season.
“It was one of the things I took into account. There’s a long way to go, and my focus is on the day-to-day, but I also believe that these kinds of environments are what will prepare me to perform at my best,” she said.
For now, there is a Ballon d’Or to savor and a new life in London to build.
BALLON D’OR COACHES OF THE YEAR
Luis de la Fuente won the Ballon d’Or for men’s coach of the year, after leading Spain to World Cup glory.
“Teamwork makes us invincible. This is a great honour,” de la Fuente said after collecting the award at a ceremony in London.
“The secret is to work with very generous players that put the team first. We’ve got such an amazing pool of talent, the best in the world, so as a coach I have such a great amount of talent to work with. So this is their success,” he added.
In an age of coaches who were previously star players, 65-year-old de la Fuente stands out as a technician who worked his way up through the national coaching ranks in Spain.
After a solid career as a player led to an undistinguished stint in club coaching, he was flicking through the sports pages in 2013 when he saw an advert placed by the Spanish Football Federation for a youth team coach.
He applied, got the job with Spain’s Under-19s, and 13 years later some of the players from that squad were part of the teams he has led to victory in the Nations League, Euro 2024 and then the World Cup.
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De la Fuente insisted from the start in the United States this summer that he had the strongest squad in the tournament, even when they stumbled to a goalless draw against World Cup debutants Cape Verde in their opening match.
They built momentum with each match and dispatched one of the pre-tournament favourites, France, in a clinical 2-0 win in the semi-final.
In a tight final against Lionel Messi’s Argentina in New Jersey, de la Fuente’s men kept their cool in the face of muscular tactics from the opposition and Ferran Torres smashed in the winning goal for a 1-0 victory.
“This is recognition for a job very well done over many years,” de la Fuente told AFP.
“I believe Spanish football, both in terms of coaching and the game itself, serves as an example of excellent youth development, which ultimately paves the way for future success.”
The women’s coaching award also went to a Spaniard as Barcelona’s Pere Romeu was rewarded for masterminding a season in which they won the Spanish league, Spanish cup, Super Cup and Champions League.
BALLON D’OR 2026 AWARD WINNERS
– Men’s striker of the year: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich/England)
– Women’s striker of the year: Charlyn Corral (CF Pachuca/Mexico)
– Men’s club of the year: Paris Saint-Germain
– Women’s club of the year: Barcelona
– Socrates Award: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal/England)
– Men’s goalkeeper of the year: Unai Simón (Athletic Club/Spain)
– Women’s goalkeeper of the year: Cata Coll (Barcelona/Spain)
– Men’s coach of the year: Luis de la Fuente (Spain)
– Women’s coach of the year: Pere Romeu (Barcelona)
– Women’s young player of the year: Vicky Lopez (Barcelona/Spain)
– Men’s young player of the year: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain)