Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas emerged as the biggest winners at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony held at the London Palladium Theatre on Monday, October 26, with the England striker claiming his first men’s award and the Spanish midfielder securing her third Ballon d’Or Féminin.
The ceremony, which marked the 70th anniversary of the prestigious football award, was delayed by about 45 minutes because of traffic congestion in the British capital.
Kane’s triumph capped a remarkable campaign for the 33-year-old Bayern Munich forward, whose goalscoring exploits helped the German champions secure another Bundesliga title and a domestic treble.
According to UEFA, Kane scored 73 goals for club and country during the 2025/26 campaign, including 61 for Bayern Munich. His performances also helped England finish third at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The England captain became the fifth Englishman to win the men’s award, joining previous recipients Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen.
Kane finished ahead of French forward Kylian Mbappé and Spanish teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who placed second and third respectively.
The striker also received the Men’s Striker of the Year award, further underlining his outstanding contribution to Bayern’s successful season.
For Kane, the honour represents a significant milestone in a career that has seen him establish himself as one of Europe’s most consistent goalscorers after years of playing for Tottenham Hotspur and the England national team.
Putellas, meanwhile, returned to the summit of women’s football after winning the women’s award in 2021 and 2022.
The 32-year-old midfielder was recognised for her influential performances during Barcelona’s successful 2025/26 campaign, which included another UEFA Women’s Champions League triumph.
She finished ahead of Polish striker Ewa Pajor and Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw in the women’s voting.
Putellas also enjoyed a successful international campaign with Spain, helping the national team win the 2025 UEFA Women’s Nations League.
Her latest award represents a remarkable comeback after injuries, including an anterior cruciate ligament injury, interrupted her progress in previous seasons.
After 14 years with Barcelona, Putellas joined London City Lionesses ahead of the 2026/27 season, beginning a new chapter in her playing career.
Barcelona also enjoyed a strong night, winning the Women’s Club of the Year award. Goalkeeper Cata Coll and midfielder Vicky López received the women’s goalkeeper and young talent awards respectively, while coach Pere Romeu was named Women’s Coach of the Year.
On the men’s side, Yamal won the Young Talent of the Year award, while Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón received the Goalkeeper of the Year honour. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was named Men’s Coach of the Year.
Paris Saint-Germain claimed the Men’s Club of the Year award, while Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka received the Sócrates Award for his solidarity initiatives.
The ceremony also attracted attention after reports emerged that prepared winner announcements had appeared prematurely on the Ballon d’Or website, creating confusion before the official results were unveiled.
Despite the organisational setbacks, Kane and Putellas dominated the headlines, with their victories highlighting the importance of consistency, resilience and excellence in modern football.
The awards ceremony was held outside Paris for the first time, with London chosen to honour Stanley Matthews, the inaugural Ballon d’Or winner in 1956.
The 2026 edition therefore combined a historic milestone for the award with landmark personal achievements for two of football’s most celebrated stars.
