London, 26 October 2026 – Football fans around the world were treated to a memorable night as the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony was held at the iconic London Palladium Theatre. The ceremony saw some of the greatest footballers, coaches and personalities from across the world come together to celebrate excellence, dedication and incredible achievement in football. The ceremony marked the first time it has been held in London to celebrate the legacy of England’s Sir Stanley Matthews, who won the first Ballon d’Or in 1956.
The highlight of the evening was as England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane won the Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026. Kane had an incredible scoring record throughout the season, was consistent and showed great leadership qualities. This award is one of the most prestigious individual awards in football and is a huge achievement for Kane. It was also a huge source of pride for English football.
A celebration of sporting excellence –
The Ballon d’Or is one of the most prestigious individual awards in international football. It was first introduced back in 1956 and is awarded to players who have performed exceptionally well, have great skill, work well within a team and have achieved great things throughout the season.
The 2026 ceremony was watched by fans around the world. Football legends, current international stars and young rising stars all attended. The event was hosted by French football legend Thierry Henry and sports presenter Kate Scott. The awards were given to players who have achieved great things in men’s and women’s football, incredible goalkeeping, coaching, young stars and humanitarian work.
Harry Kane: The star of the night
At the age of 33 Kane has reached the peak of his career by winning the Ballon d’Or for the first time. This makes him the fifth Englishman to win the award, joining some legendary names such as Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen. The last English winner was Michael Owen in 2001.
Kane’s win was due to an incredible 2025/26 season where he scored 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich in all competitions. Overall he scored 73 goals in 65 games for club and country. This helped Bayern win the Bundesliga title, domestic cup and Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. Kane’s incredible goal scoring, intelligence, passing and leadership made him one of the most influential players of the season.
Kane also had an incredible season internationally, captaining England and scoring 6 goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This helped England finish 3rd in the tournament, their best performance in the World Cup since they won it in 1966.
In his acceptance speech Kane thanked his teammates, coaches, family and everyone that had supported him. Kane also spoke about how important it is to never give up and work hard. Kane explained how it wasn’t easy to reach the top and he had had some setbacks.
Overall Kane’s win was incredibly inspirational as it shows that if you have determination and put in consistent effort then you can overcome any problems and achieve incredible things.
A Thrilling Race for the Men’s Ballon d’Or
There was fierce competition in the race for the men’s Ballon d’Or.
Kylian Mbappé came runner-up after another stellar season.
Lamine Yamal rounded off the top three in a year that has cemented his status as one of the game’s brightest young stars.
Rodri placed fourth and was rewarded for his quality.
Lionel Messi rounded off the top five to show he is still one of the game’s biggest stars.
Alexia Putellas wins the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time
Another major award of the evening was the women’s award. Alexia Putellas from Spain won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for a third time.
Putellas had a fantastic season with Barcelona winning a quadruple. Her technical skills, vision, passing, creativity and leadership were key to the team’s success. She then moved to London City Lionesses in July 2026.
It was a great achievement for her to come back to the top after injuries in the past. It shows how she is resilient and determined to come back to the top.
This also shows how women’s football is becoming more popular and high quality. The women’s game is continuing to gain a bigger audience, more investment and international recognition. Awards like the ballon d’or are a big part of recognising the best players in the women’s game.
Other major winners of the evening
Men’s Coach of the Year: Luis de la Fuente
Awarded for his contribution to men’s football, the Spain national team coach was named Men’s Coach of the Year.
Women’s Coach of the Year: Pere Romeu
Barcelona’s coach was named Women’s Coach of the Year for his work with the women.
Men’s Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain
Awarded for their accomplishments in men’s football, Paris Saint-Germain won Men’s Club of the Year.
Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona
The Spanish club were named Women’s Club of the Year for their success in women’s football.
Sócrates Award: Bukayo Saka
Saka was awarded the prize for his work in humanitarianism and social projects, showing how football can do good.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or was an amazing night celebrating talent, hard work and sporting excellence. Harry Kane made history by winning the award after an incredible goal scoring season, leading Bayern Munich and England to glory. Alexia Putellas won her third Women’s Ballon d’Or.
The awards show how football is not just about scoring goals. The achievements of young players, coaches, goalkeepers, successful teams and humanitarian efforts were celebrated.
As the celebrations drew to a close in London, football fans were left with some unforgettable moments from the 2026 Ballon d’Or. It reminded the world that there is no such thing as instant success, you must be dedicated, disciplined, brave and strive to improve. The message of the evening is that greatness is not just about winning trophies but working hard, having strong character and being inspiring.
