Harry Kane wins first Ballon d'Or after record-breaking season
Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or for the first time, receiving the trophy at the 70th edition of the award ceremony held in London. The Bayern Munich striker beat out Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Lionel Messi for the honor. Kane's victory was driven by an exceptional scoring record of 73 goals in 65 matches for Bayern and England, along with titles in the German league, cup, and super cup. The award covered the period from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026, and the English national team finished third at the World Cup. The ceremony was delayed by 45 minutes due to traffic, and the trophy was presented by Brazilian legend Ronaldo. Spain's Alexia Putellas won the women's award, while PSG took the club of the year prize.