Harry Kane Wins Ballon d'Or 2026, Edging Kylian Mbappe in a Tight Race

A Tight Race Between Kane and Mbappe

This year's race was extremely close. Kane finished just ahead of Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe, who led the vote for a long time before being overtaken late on. Barcelona's Lamine Yamal completed the podium in third place.

Mbappe will have to wait a little longer for his first Ballon d'Or, despite a prolific season for Real Madrid and France. For many observers, the result shows how small the gap was between the leading candidates this year.

The award is presented by France Football and decided by a vote of journalists from around the world. Voters judge individual performance, team success and overall class across the season.

A Historic Night for England

The win is a landmark for English football. Kane is the first Englishman to win the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001, and only the fifth overall after Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.

Kane built his case on a hugely productive season at Bayern and a key role in England's bronze medal at the 2026 World Cup. After the announcement, the arch at Wembley Stadium was lit up in gold to celebrate. England head coach Thomas Tuchel also praised his captain.

Ballon d'Or 2026: The Top Seven

1. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
2. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
3. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
4. Rodri
5. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
6. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG)
7. Ousmane Dembele (PSG)

In the women's award, Alexia Putellas won the Ballon d'Or Feminin for the third time, after her back-to-back wins in 2021 and 2022.

What's Next for Harry Kane

There is little time to celebrate. Bayern, still unbeaten in the Bundesliga this season, face Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker on Sunday, 1 November 2026 at 00.30 WIB. See the stats and win probabilities on the Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund match page.

In England, the title race is heating up too. Check where every club stands in the latest Premier League standings, or browse more stories in our football news section.