LONDON — In a landmark evening for English football and a historic changing of the guard, Harry Kane was awarded the Ballon d’Or on Monday evening, edging out a star-studded field and denying Argentina’s Lionel Messi a record-extending ninth triumph.
The prestigious annual ceremony, presented by the French magazine France Football since 1956 to honor the standout player of the European football season, celebrated a major milestone this year. Marking its 70th anniversary, the gala was fittingly held at the historic London Palladium Theatre. The venue choice served as a heartfelt tribute to England legend Sir Stanley Matthews, who etched his name into football history as the very first recipient of the prize back in the 1950s.
For Kane, the accolade represents the pinnacle of an extraordinary individual journey. He becomes the first English player to claim the coveted golden sphere since Michael Owen lifted the trophy back in 2001. Kane’s victory was built upon the bedrock of a staggering campaign in which he found the back of the net an astonishing 73 times across all club and international competitions.
The prolific England striker enjoyed a stellar domestic season with Bayern Munich, firing the German giants to the Bundesliga title while simultaneously capturing the European Golden Boot after establishing himself as the most lethal marksman on the continent. Beyond his club exploits, Kane carried his phenomenal form onto the international stage, leading the Three Lions deep into the tournament and securing a hard-fought appearance in the World Cup semifinals.
Heading into the glamourous London ceremony, the race for the award was viewed as exceptionally competitive. Kane stood shoulder-to-shoulder as one of the primary favorites alongside Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and France’s explosive forward Kylian Mbappé. Meanwhile, Argentina’s formidable striker Lautaro Martínez also found his name among the elite nominees, while Lionel Messi entered the conversation as a familiar yet unexpected underdog given the shifting landscape of global football.
The evening ultimately highlighted a fascinating contrast between Kane’s relentless domestic and continental dominance and the final chapter of Messi’s illustrious year. For the legendary Argentine maestro, the season involved a lower-profile campaign at club level with Inter Miami. Although Messi was unable to steer the Major League Soccer side to a third consecutive Leagues Cup final, he continued to mesmerize domestic crowds. He racked up an impressive 25 goals and 15 assists in the MLS, carving his name into the history books as the first player in the league’s history to record 15 or more assists in three consecutive seasons.
Yet, Messi’s strongest argument for another Ballon d’Or lived on the international stage during the 2026 World Cup. The iconic playmaker once again mesmerized the globe, orchestrating Argentina’s march to a second consecutive World Cup final. Throughout the tournament, Messi contributed eight goals and four assists, including a brilliant two-goal display in the Albiceleste’s thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over England.
The past year has also been one of immense personal significance and transition for the Argentine icon. Messi confirmed his retirement from international football with the national team in August, a decision taken shortly after the passing of his father earlier that same month. He subsequently played his emotional final fixture in the iconic blue and white stripes on October 6, stepping onto the pitch at River Plate’s historic Monumental Stadium as Argentina secured a 3-0 victory against Benin in front of a rapturous crowd of 85,000 adoring fans.
Women’s Ballon d’Or Winner
In the women’s category, the spotlight shone brightly on the London Club Lionesses, where Alexia Putellas added another magnificent chapter to her legendary career by capturing the Women’s Ballon d’Or. Putellas continues to set the benchmark for excellence in the women’s game, combining vision, leadership, and an unparalleled knack for decisive moments on the pitch.
Other Prizes (Men and Women)
The gala also celebrated excellence across various positions and contributions within the global game. The Kopa Trophy, awarded annually to the best young talent under the age of 21, was claimed by Barcelona and Spain prodigy Lamine Yamal for the men, alongside Vicky López for the women.
In the technical areas, the Johan Cruyff Trophy for the best coach of the year was presented to Spain’s national team manager Luis de la Fuente on the men’s side, and Pere Romeu of Barcelona Femení on the women’s side, recognizing their tactical acumen and leadership in securing major silverware.
Defensive and goalkeeping mastery were equally celebrated, with Unai Simón and Cata Cole taking home the Yashin Trophy as the best goalkeepers of the season. Meanwhile, the prestigious Sócrates Award—which honors humanitarian efforts, social work projects, and a deep commitment to solidarity within football—was presented to England and Arsenal star Bukayo Saka in recognition of his impactful off-pitch contributions.
Team success was also recognized on the night, with Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona sharing the honor of being named Club of the Year following stellar collective campaigns. Additionally, the Gerd Müller Trophy, awarded to the most prolific top scorer of the season, was shared by Harry Kane and Charlyn Corral, underscoring their remarkable consistency in front of goal.
Complete List of Men’s Ballon d’Or Standings
The comprehensive ranking for the men’s Ballon d’Or reflects the global elite of football over the past season:
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich – England)
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid – France)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona – Spain)
- Rodri (Manchester City – Spain)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami – Argentina)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG – Georgia)
- Ousmane Dembélé (PSG – France)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City – Norway)
- Michael Olise (Bayern Munich – France)
- Fabián Ruiz (PSG – Spain)
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid – England)
- Pau Cubarsí (FC Barcelona – Spain)
- Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain – Morocco)
- Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain – Portugal)
- Declan Rice (Arsenal – England)
- Ferrán Torres (FC Barcelona – Spain)
- Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid – Brazil)
- Marc Cucurella (Chelsea/Real Madrid – Spain)
- João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain – Portugal)
- William Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain – Ecuador)
- Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal – Brazil)
- Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan – Argentina)
- Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich – Portugal)
- Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain – Brazil)
- Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich – France)
- Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United – Portugal)
- Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadsiah – Mexico)
- William Saliba (Arsenal – France)
- Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr – Senegal)
