The 2026 Ballon d’Or winners are Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas. Kane took the men’s award and Putellas the women’s on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, at the London Palladium. It was the first time the ceremony was held in London, a nod to the trophy’s 70th anniversary and its first winner, England’s Sir Stanley Matthews (UEFA).
Both wins carry history. Kane, 33, is the first Englishman to win in 25 years. Putellas, 32, won for a third time, matching the women’s record. Below: why each one won, the full top-10 rankings, every other prize handed out, and what the night means for soccer fans in the U.S.
- Men’s winner: Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich), his first Ballon d’Or. Kylian Mbappé finished second and Lamine Yamal third.
- Women’s winner: Alexia Putellas (Spain, Barcelona/London City Lionesses), her third, after 2021 and 2022. Ewa Pajor finished second and Khadija Shaw third.
- Season covered: 2025–26.
Why Harry Kane Won the Men’s Award
Kane won on sheer volume and consistency across three competitions. He scored 73 goals in 65 games for Bayern Munich and England in 2025–26: 61 for his club and 12 for his country, according to England’s Football Association.
Here is how that season broke down:
- Bundesliga: 36 league goals as Bayern won the German title, his third straight season as the league’s top scorer.
- German Cup: He scored in every round, including a hat-trick in the final against Stuttgart.
- Champions League: 14 goals in 13 games as Bayern reached the semifinals. Only Mbappé scored more in the competition.
- World Cup 2026: Six goals as England finished third, the team’s best World Cup result since winning it in 1966.
Bundesliga officials say his 73-goal season trails only Lionel Messi’s 2011–12 campaign in European soccer history. Kane also won the Men’s Striker of the Year award on the same night.
The win ends several long waits. Kane is only the fifth Englishman to claim the trophy, after Stanley Matthews (1956), Bobby Charlton (1966), Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) and Michael Owen (2001). He is also the first player from a German club to win since Borussia Dortmund’s Matthias Sammer in 1996.
The jump is striking. Kane finished 13th in last year’s voting despite 41 goals and a Bundesliga title. England coach Thomas Tuchel said he had run out of words to praise Kane’s performances long ago.
Why Alexia Putellas Won the Women’s Award
Putellas won because she led the best team in Europe and delivered in its biggest games. She was named 2025–26 UEFA Women’s Champions League Player of the Season after seven goals and seven assists as Barcelona won the trophy (UEFA).
She captained Barcelona to four trophies last season. For Spain, she was Player of the Finals as her country won the 2025 Women’s Nations League.
Three things make this win stand out:
- It ties the record. Putellas now has three Ballon d’Or titles (2021, 2022, 2026), level with teammate Aitana Bonmatí, who won three straight from 2023 to 2025.
- It completes a comeback. Putellas tore her ACL in 2022, an injury that kept her out for most of a season and raised doubts she would return to her peak.
- It is a first for England’s top league. Putellas joined London City Lionesses before the 2026–27 season, making her the first Ballon d’Or winner playing in the Women’s Super League.
One caveat: Bonmatí missed nearly six months of last season with a long-term injury, which removed the three-time defending champion from serious contention.
Name note: her name is spelled Alèxia in Catalan and Alexia in Spanish. UEFA and most English-language outlets use Alexia.
The Full Top 10 Behind the 2026 Ballon d’Or Winners
Spain and Barcelona dominated both lists. Five of the women’s top 10 played for Barcelona last season. On the men’s side, Paris Saint-Germain placed three players and Bayern Munich two.
Men’s top 10
- Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
- Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
- Rodri (Spain, Manchester City/Barcelona)
- Lionel Messi (Argentina, Inter Miami)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, Paris Saint-Germain)
- Ousmane Dembélé (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
- Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
- Michael Olise (France, Bayern Munich)
- Fabián Ruiz (Spain, Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s top 10
- Alexia Putellas (Spain, Barcelona/London City Lionesses)
- Ewa Pajor (Poland, Barcelona)
- Khadija Shaw (Jamaica, Manchester City)
- Melchie Dumornay (Haiti, OL Lyonnes)
- Patri Guijarro (Spain, Barcelona)
- Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway, Barcelona)
- Pernille Harder (Denmark, Bayern Munich)
- Clàudia Pina (Spain, Barcelona)
- Alessia Russo (England, Arsenal)
- Temwa Chawinga (Malawi, Kansas City Current)
Rankings as published by UEFA, which has co-organized the awards with France Football since 2024. The men’s vote was cast by 100 journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations.
Every Other Award Handed Out
Spain won seven of the 11 other prizes, a sign of how strong its national teams and clubs were in 2025–26.
- Young Talent of the Year: Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona) and Vicky López (Spain, Barcelona)
- Goalkeeper of the Year: Unai Simón (Spain, Athletic Club) and Cata Coll (Spain, Barcelona)
- Coach of the Year: Luis de la Fuente (Spain national team) and Pere Romeu (Barcelona)
- Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain (men) and Barcelona (women)
- Striker of the Year: Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich) and Charlyn Corral (Mexico, Pachuca)
- Sócrates Award for charity work: Bukayo Saka (England)
What the Night Means for U.S. Soccer Fans
The Ballon d’Or is a European prize, but this year’s results run straight through North America.
- The World Cup on home soil helped decide it. Kane’s six goals at the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, were a key part of his case.
- MLS had a top-five finisher. Lionel Messi of Inter Miami placed fifth, a strong showing for a player in an American league. For more on Messi’s year, read our story on Ronaldo’s tribute to Messi after Argentina’s farewell.
- The NWSL made the women’s top 10. Temwa Chawinga of the Kansas City Current finished 10th.
- CONCACAF won a trophy. Mexico’s Charlyn Corral, who plays for Pachuca, was named Women’s Striker of the Year.
No U.S. national team player finished in either top 10 this year.
Common Mix-Ups to Avoid
- “The Ballon d’Or is a FIFA award.” It is not. French magazine France Football created it in 1956 and still runs the vote, with UEFA co-organizing since 2024. FIFA hands out a separate prize, The Best FIFA Football Awards.
- “You need the Champions League to win.” Kane won without a European title. Bayern lost in the semifinals, and his case rested on goals, domestic trophies and the World Cup.
- “The winner was announced early.” Partly true. Before the ceremony, the official Ballon d’Or website mistakenly published an article naming Kane the winner. The result was confirmed on stage that night.
- “Putellas plays in Spain.” Not anymore. Her award reflects her final season at Barcelona, but she now plays for London City Lionesses in England.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 Ballon d’Or winners rewarded two very different stories: a striker who finally turned record goal totals into the sport’s top individual prize, and a midfielder who fought back from a serious knee injury to reclaim it. Next, watch whether Kane can keep Bayern in contention in Europe and whether Putellas lifts London City Lionesses in the WSL. For more coverage, visit the Daily US Wire Sports section.
