Harry Kane wins first Ballon d’Or as Alexia Putellas claims women’s award
publishers 68articles 121first reported 22 Oct, 04:40 UTCdeveloping since 22 Oct · 10 editionstop 25 #8
Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d’Or on Monday after a record-breaking season for Bayern Munich and England, becoming the first English recipient of the men’s award since Michael Owen in 2001.
The 33-year-old striker finished ahead of Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappé, with Barcelona and Spain attacker Lamine Yamal placing third. Kane scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country during the 2025-26 campaign, including a Bayern-record 61 goals in 51 club matches.
His goals helped Bayern win the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal and reach the Champions League semi-finals. He scored 36 league goals and a hat-trick against Stuttgart in the German Cup final. Kane also scored six times at the World Cup, where he captained England to third place after a semi-final defeat by Argentina. That tally took him past Gary Lineker as England’s leading scorer at World Cup finals.
Receiving the trophy at a ceremony in London, Kane described the award as a product of “resilience, determination and self-belief” and thanked his teammates, coaches and family. He said winning in England made the occasion especially meaningful.
Alexia Putellas won the 2026 Ballon d’Or Féminin, drawing level with the record of three women’s awards. The Spain international was recognised after helping Barcelona win multiple trophies, including the Women’s Champions League, before leaving the club.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 6 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 132 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- Source articles
- 121
- Given to the writer
- 8, 6 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 132 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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