Precious Nwonu, Enugu

England captain Harry Kane and Spain international Alexia Putellas have won the men’s and women’s awards respectively at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony held in London.

Kane, 33, who plays for Bayern Munich, became the first Englishman to win the men’s Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen claimed the honour in 2001.

Putellas, 32, secured the women’s award for a third time, equalling the record, after reclaiming the title from her Spain teammate Aitana Bonmati.

The ceremony recognised outstanding performances across men’s and women’s football during the 2025/26 season.

In other categories, Barcelona Femeni won the women’s club award, while Paris Saint-Germain were named men’s club of the year. Lamine Yamal and Lopez received the young players’ awards, while Pere Romeu and Luis de la Fuente were recognised as the best women’s and men’s coaches respectively.

Goalkeeper awards went to Coll and Simon, while Charlyn Corral and Kane won the women’s and men’s top scorer awards. Putellas took home the Ballon d’Or Feminin, with Kane winning the men’s prize.

Speaking after his victory, Kane expressed pride in ending England’s 25-year wait for another winner.

He described the achievement as significant for English football, noting that the country has many outstanding players. He also said representing England remained his greatest honour.

The Bayern Munich forward revealed that head coach Vincent Kompany had called him earlier in the day to wish him luck. Kompany was reportedly taken to hospital after collapsing at the club’s training ground the previous week.

Kane said Kompany was recovering but needed time to rest, adding that he looked forward to returning to Munich to reunite with his coach, teammates and the club’s staff.

The striker also dismissed the prospect of an immediate return to the Premier League, saying he was enjoying life at Bayern Munich and remained focused on achieving more with the German club.

He identified winning the Champions League with Bayern and securing a major international trophy with England as key ambitions for the remaining years of his career.

Putellas, meanwhile, reflected on her 14-year spell at Barcelona, describing the experience as fulfilling after the team won every title available to them.

She also highlighted the preparation and training that take place away from the public eye, saying success on match days is built through sustained work behind the scenes.

Asked what advice she would give her younger self, Putellas encouraged herself to embrace every moment, continue enjoying football and avoid placing limits on her ambitions. She also referred to the impact of the serious injury she suffered in 2022.

The ceremony marked a major milestone for Kane, whose journey from playing football in parks in Chingford, East London, to lifting the sport’s most prestigious individual award was celebrated by supporters.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s record as the youngest Ballon d’Or winner remained intact. Ronaldo was 21 when he won the award in 1997, while Yamal has yet to surpass that milestone.

Real Madrid’s return to the ceremony after a two-year boycott also attracted attention. However, the club’s statement on the results focused on the performances of its players, including runner-up Kylian Mbappe, rather than congratulating Kane directly.

Mbappe finished second, while Jude Bellingham placed 11th, Vinicius Junior came 17th and Marc Cucurella finished 18th.

Kane’s triumph and Putellas’ third victory were among the major highlights of the London ceremony, which celebrated individual excellence and achievements across the game.