Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has become the first Englishman in 25 years to win the men’s Ballon d’Or, capping a remarkable season in which he scored 73 goals for club and country.
The 33-year-old received football’s most prestigious individual award at a ceremony in London on Monday, becoming England’s first winner since Michael Owen in 2001.
Kane’s goals helped Bayern secure a league and cup double last season, while he also captained England to the semi-finals of the World Cup, their best finish since winning the tournament in 1966.
The former Tottenham Hotspur forward was Europe’s leading club goalscorer in the 2025/2026 campaign and has finished as the Bundesliga’s top scorer for three consecutive seasons.
He also became the fastest player to reach 100 Bundesliga goals in September, achieving the milestone in his 98th league appearance for Bayern.
Kane thanked his team-mates after receiving the award, crediting their support and competitive spirit for his success.
“Without you guys and the rest of the team it wouldn’t be possible,” he said.
Despite his individual achievements, Kane’s major honours since joining Bayern in 2023 have largely been domestic. Before moving to Germany, he lost the 2019 Champions League final with Tottenham and was part of England teams beaten in two European Championship finals.
His career has also been marked by a steady development beyond goalscoring. Kane has become an effective playmaker, using his passing range and vision to contribute to Bayern’s build-up play.
Bayern manager Vincent Kompany praised the striker’s ability to combine his creativity with his scoring record, saying his contribution to the team was sometimes underestimated during his time in England.
Team-mate Jonathan Tah also highlighted Kane’s work ethic, saying the striker continued to improve despite his achievements.
Kane, Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer with 280 goals and England’s record goalscorer with 91, has also scored 58 times in the Champions League, making him the highest-scoring English player in the competition.
His Ballon d’Or triumph represents a major individual milestone for a player whose goalscoring consistency has continued to grow with age.
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