The Ballon d'Or is France Football's annual individual award in football. This year it went to Harry Kane for the men's prize and Alexia Putellas for the women's prize. The ceremony took place Monday, October 26, at the Palladium Theatre in London, the first time it was held outside France. Here's who won, how the results compare, and where to find full rankings.
France Football announced at the gala in London that Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Kylian Mbappé finished second and Lamine Yamal third in the published rankings. Alexia Putellas won the women's award for the third time in her career. Kane is the first Englishman to win the men's award since Michael Owen in 2001. Sky Sports reported that bookmakers had made Kane the favorite ahead of the vote.
If you want more than the winners, use the complete list. Yahoo Sports' results report includes the full rankings and the other award results. The official Ballon d'Or website, ballondor.com, carries news and coverage of the ceremony. Readers who follow English football may also want English football's Ballon d'Or history for the longer picture.
Kane is only the fifth English player to win the award. The list shows how rare the honor has been for English players.
The Women's Award
Putellas won the women's award for the third time. Her two earlier wins came before an ACL injury. Aitana Bonmatí was left off the 30-player women's shortlist, and reports tied her absence to a left fibula fracture she suffered in late 2025. FC Barcelona were named Women's Club of the Year.
How many Ballon d'Or awards have Kane and Putellas won? Kane's 2026 win is his first. Putellas has won the women's award three times in her career, including this year.
Kane is the first Englishman to win since Michael Owen in 2001, a gap of 25 years. This year's ceremony moved to London for the award's 70th edition, so the English winner received the prize away from the award's usual Paris stage. Those two facts make the men's result a milestone for English fans.
Harry Kane won the men's 2026 Ballon d'Or in London. Alexia Putellas won the women's award for the third time in her career. Kane is the first Englishman to win since Michael Owen in 2001. Yahoo Sports has published the full rankings, and the official Ballon d'Or website, ballondor.com, carries coverage of the ceremony.
