Harry Kane wins the Ballon d'Or, Alexia Putellas takes a third women's award
28 October 2026
Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich and England striker, won the Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in London. He is the first Englishman to take the award since Michael Owen in 2001. Kane scored 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich in the 2025-26 season and 73 for club and country in all. Alexia Putellas of Spain won the Ballon d'Or Feminin for the third time, after a treble-winning 2025-26 season with Barcelona; she moved to London City Lionesses in July after fourteen years at Barcelona.
Men's winner:
Harry Kane, Bayern Munich and England
Women's winner:
Alexia Putellas, Spain
Previous English winner:
Michael Owen, 2001
Kane's club goals:
61 in 51 games
Why it matters for exams: The Ballon d'Or is the best-known individual award in football; the winner, his club and the previous English winner are standard sports questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Ballon d'Or Feminin The women's Ballon d'Or — The women's edition of the award, first given in 2018.