Harry Kane was proclaimed winner of the 2026 Ballon d'Or, adding his name to the long list of champions who have marked the history of football. The decision was announced by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) during the awards ceremony held in Paris, where other club and national team awards were also recognised.
The award was presented to Kane for his outstanding performance in the 2025-26 season, in which he led the England national team to a historic qualification for the World Cup and scored 32 goals in 38 competition matches. His ability to combine physical power, shooting precision and tactical intelligence made him the fulcrum of Manchester City's attack, helping them win the Premier League and Champions League titles.
In the context of the history of the Ballon d'Or, the 2026 winner follows Ousmane Dembélé, who won the previous year, and ranks among the great names of the past, such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Johan Cruyff. The roll of honour, which dates back to 1956, has featured legends such as Alfredo Di Stéfano, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten, and now also includes the name of Kane, who has consolidated his position among the best scorers of his generation.
Kane expressed gratitude for the honor, highlighting the importance of teamwork and support from teammates and the coach. He also reiterated his aim to continue to improve and contribute to the success of both club and national team. Next season promises to be crucial for him, with participation in new international tournaments and the next English championship, where he will have to demonstrate that he is even more dominant.