29.10.2026 19:58
Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or 2026 award for the best footballer of the year. The English striker, who completed the season with 73 goals and 8 assists in 65 matches, became the first English footballer to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001. In the women's category, Alexia Putellas rose to the top for the third time, while Spaniards won 8 of the 13 awards at the ceremony in London.
The Golden Ball (Ballon d'Or) award given to the footballer of the year was won by English striker Harry Kane.
The Ballon d'Or 2026 awards found their owners at a ceremony held in London, the capital of England. With 12 goals for the England national team this season, along with a performance of 73 goals and 8 assists in 65 matches, Harry Kane managed to win the men's 'Best Footballer of the Year' award. Kane also won the award for best attacking player of the year.
THE LAST ENGLISH WINNER WAS MICHAEL OWEN
Thus, the award went to an English footballer after 25 years. The last name to win the award for England was Michael Owen in 2001.
IN WOMEN'S FOOTBALL, PUTELLAS IS AT THE TOP FOR THE THIRD TIME
In women's football, the best footballer of the year was Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas. The 32-year-old experienced footballer achieved the feat of winning this award for the 3rd time. The winner of the women's best attacking player of the year award was 35-year-old Mexican Charlyn Corral.
SPANIARDS LEFT THEIR MARK ON THE NIGHT
At the ceremony held in London on October 26, 2026, Spaniards won 8 of the 13 awards to be given, leaving their mark on the night.
Luis de la Fuente, who won the championship with Spain at EURO 2024 and the 2026 World Cup, became the men's coach of the year. In the women's category, the same award went to Pere Romeu, the head coach of the Barcelona Women's Football Team.
The winners of the best young player of the year awards remained unchanged. Barcelona's 19-year-old winger Lamine Yamal won the 'Best Young Men's Player of the Year' award for the 3rd consecutive time. In women's football, the award again went to a Barcelona footballer. The 20-year-old player of the burgundy-blue team's women's team, Vicky Lopez, became the winner of the award for the second consecutive time.
In the best goalkeeper of the year category, the awards also went to Spanish footballers. Unai Simon, who guarded the goal of the Spain national team that won the 2026 World Cup, won the men's award. In women's football, the same award went to Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll.
The best women's team of 2026 was Barcelona, while in men's football Paris Saint-Germain won the award once again. Bukayo Saka, who works with multiple charities providing medical care and humanitarian aid to children and families in need in London and around the world, became the winner of the fair-play award.