The London Palladium was the scene of a historic night in which the men's and women's Ballon d'Or were crowned in the same city. Harry Kane, 33, took the men's award after beating Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, who took second and third place. The gala, which was held just 11 kilometers from his neighborhood of Leytonstone, did justice to the Englishman's successful season with both Bayern Munich and the English national team. In the women's category, Alexia Putellas, 32, won her third Ballon d'Or, confirming the predictions after her outstanding campaign at FC Barcelona and her title as Best Player in the Champions League.
Barça dominated the evening in several aspects. Lamine Yamal once again received the award for Best Young Talent, becoming the first player to win the award three consecutive years, while Vicky López repeated the title of Best Player, beating Clara Serrajordi. Goalkeeper Cata Coll was recognized as Best Goalkeeper after Barça's victory in the Champions League final in Oslo, where the team beat OL Lyonnes 4‑0. Pere Romeu was named Best Women's Coach, becoming the first Barça coach to receive the honor, and the Barça Women's team was crowned Best Women's Team, reflecting a campaign that included four titles.
In the men's category, Luis de la Fuente was distinguished as Best Coach, beating Luis Enrique Martínez, who had won the Champions League with PSG last season. PSG also received the award for Best Men's Team, in line with their dominance in Europe and France. Unai Simón was crowned Best Male Goalkeeper, beating competitors such as Joan García, David Raya and Thibaut Courtois. The Socrates Prize was awarded to Bukayo Saka for his work with the BigShoe association, which funds surgeries for children in Nigeria, the country of origin of his parents.
The ceremony also highlighted the presence of the Spanish team, which had been world champions last summer in the United States. Harry Kane and the Mexican Charlyn Corral were recognized as the Best Forwards of the Year, closing the night with a recognition of the talents that have marked the season on both continents. With these awards, the Ballon d'Or gala reaffirmed Barça's dominant position in women's football and the growing influence of Spanish players and coaches on the international stage.