At a star-studded 70th annual Ballon d'Or ceremony held at the London Palladium, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas were honored with football's most prestigious individual awards.
Harry Kane took home the Men's Ballon d'Or after finishing ahead of fellow nominees Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. His victory comes on the back of a relentless goalscoring campaign for both club and country, during which he tallied 73 goals across 65 total appearances. The award marks Kane's first Ballon d'Or and makes him the first English player to win the trophy since Michael Owen in 2001.
In the women's category, Alexia Putellas was awarded the Women's Ballon d'Or (Ballon d'Or Féminin) for a record-equaling third time in her career. The Spanish international and Barcelona superstar reclaimed the award, cementing her position as one of the most decorated figures in modern women's football.
Who Won the Remaining Honours of the Evening?
Spanish football was heavily represented across the major honors presented during the ceremony.
Kopa Trophy (Best Under-21 Player): Barcelona's Lamine Yamal won the award for a third consecutive year.
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper): Athletic Bilbao's Unai Simón claimed the men's goalkeeper award, while Barcelona's Cata Coll earned the women's equivalent.
Gerd Müller Trophy (Striker of the Year): Harry Kane collected the men's trophy alongside his main award, while Charlyn Corral won the women's category.
Coach of the Year: Spain national team manager Luis de la Fuente won for the men's game, while Barcelona's Pere Romeu secured the honor for women's football.
Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain was named Men's Club of the Year for the second consecutive year, while FC Barcelona picked up Women's Club of the Year for the third time in four seasons.
Socrates Award: Arsenal and England winger Bukayo Saka received the humanitarian award for his ongoing charitable initiatives.
Why Is Harry Kane's Victory Historical for English Football?
Harry Kane's triumph ends a quarter-century wait for an English recipient of football's highest individual honor. Since Michael Owen lifted the trophy in 2001, several English players—including Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and David Beckham—placed on the podium but fell short of the top prize. Kane's relentless output since joining Bayern Munich proved decisive, establishing him as the focal point of both his club's attack and the English national team.
How Does Alexia Putellas' Win Impact Her Legacy?
Alexia Putellas' third Women's Ballon d'Or places her alongside the most decorated players in football history. After recovering from key injuries in prior seasons, her dominance for both FC Barcelona and the Spain national team enabled her to reclaim the award from her club teammate Aitana Bonmatí. With multiple Champions League titles, domestic trophies, and international honors, Putellas continues to set the standard in modern women's sport.