Kane wins 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or, Putellas claims third

Harry Kane won the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or on October 26, becoming the first Englishman to receive the award since Michael Owen in 2001. Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the women’s prize for the third time, having previously claimed it in 2021 and 2022. Kane, the Bayern Munich and England striker, finished ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, who placed second and third. The ceremony was held in London. Kane said the location made the occasion especially meaningful, and thanked his teammates and the people who voted for him. The 33-year-old scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country during the 2025-26 season, according to ceremony coverage. He also scored six times for England at the 2026 World Cup. Reports differ on England’s final placing: some say the team finished third, while others say it lost in the semifinals. The award result does not resolve that discrepancy. At Bayern, Kane scored 61 goals in all competitions as the club won the Bundesliga and German Cup. He also received the men’s Gerd Müller Trophy at the ceremony, recognizing his goalscoring. Kane moved to Bayern from Tottenham in 2023, after years of pursuing major team honours. Putellas, a Spanish...