London became the centre of the football world on Monday night as the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony celebrated the game’s outstanding performers, delivered another landmark achievement for Lamine Yamal and ended with Harry Kane receiving the most coveted individual prize in men’s football.
The ceremony at the London Palladium brought together the leading names in the men’s and women’s game for an evening that recognised individual brilliance, coaching excellence, club achievements and humanitarian work.
Yet, before the main award was presented, the event had already generated controversy online. Separate winner profiles appeared prematurely on the Ballon d’Or website, naming Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Yamal in different posts as winners of the men’s award. The conflicting publications fuelled confusion before the official announcement.
When the defining moment arrived, it was Kane who emerged as the winner of the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or, ending a 25-year wait for an English recipient since Michael Owen claimed the prize in 2001.
Kane’s victory capped a season in which his goalscoring exploits placed him firmly in contention for the award.
The England captain has long been recognised for his consistency in front of goal, but the Ballon d’Or represents a different level of individual recognition. It places him ahead of a field that included Mbappé and Yamal, both of whom entered the ceremony with strong claims of their own.
Kane had already received the Gerd Müller Trophy, awarded for goalscoring excellence, earlier in the evening. His success in that category provided an early indication of the recognition his attacking output would receive.
The main prize, however, was the moment that defined his night.
The announcement also gave England a new Ballon d’Or winner for the first time since Owen’s triumph at the beginning of the century, making Kane’s achievement significant beyond his own career.
Yamal continues to rewrite the record books
Although Kane took the headline honour, Yamal delivered one of the evening’s most remarkable achievements by winning the Kopa Trophy for the third consecutive year.
The Barcelona youngster was recognised as the leading young player, extending a run of individual success that has accompanied his rapid rise in senior football.
His latest victory came ahead of compatriot Pau Cubarsí, who finished second, and France’s Warren Zaïre-Emery, who placed third.
The top 10 also included Germany’s Lennart Karl in fourth, Ivory Coast’s Yan Diomandé in fifth, Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi in sixth, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Kerim Alajbegović in seventh, France’s Eli Junior Kroupi in eighth, Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza in ninth and Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi in 10th.
Diomandé and Maza’s places among the leading young talents offered African football a notable presence in the rankings.
Yamal’s third consecutive Kopa Trophy was another reminder of the expectations surrounding him. Still young enough to compete for the award, he has already established himself as one of Barcelona’s central figures and a regular presence in major individual-award conversations.
Spain dominates the awards
Spain’s success extended across several categories, making it one of the defining national storylines of the ceremony.
Luis de la Fuente received the men’s Coach of the Year award, while Pere Romeu won the women’s coaching honour. Unai Simón was named men’s goalkeeper of the year, and Barcelona’s Cata Coll received the corresponding women’s award.
Barcelona also won Women’s Club of the Year, while Vicky López claimed the women’s Kopa Trophy.
The awards recognised Spanish representation across coaching, goalkeeping, club football and emerging talent, reinforcing the country’s influence on the evening.
The presence of Yamal, Cubarsí, Simón, Coll, López and the two award winning coaches made the Spanish contingent one of the ceremony’s most prominent groups.
Putellas wins the women’s Ballon d’Or
Alexia Putellas was crowned the winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or Féminin, adding another major individual honour to her career.
The Spanish midfielder’s victory placed her among the most decorated players in the history of the women’s award and gave Spain another of the evening’s leading prizes.
Putellas’ achievement complemented the wider Spanish success and ensured that the country’s influence extended to the ceremony’s two biggest individual awards.
Her recognition was one of the clearest reminders that the night was not solely about the men’s competition, with the women’s game receiving its own spotlight across the major categories.
Saka recognised beyond football
The ceremony also acknowledged the impact footballers can make away from the pitch.
Arsenal and England forward Bukayo Saka received the Sócrates Award for his humanitarian work, recognising his contribution beyond his performances as a footballer.
Paris Saint-Germain were named Men’s Club of the Year, while Barcelona received the women’s club award.
Kane’s Gerd Müller Trophy and the coaching and goalkeeper awards added further recognition to a programme designed to celebrate a broad range of achievements across the sport.
The ceremony also included a tribute to Jayden Adams, with a moment of remembrance honouring his life.
The website confusion adds an unexpected subplot
The premature publication of winner profiles was an unusual distraction during a ceremony designed to preserve the suspense surrounding its biggest announcement.
Separate posts naming Kane, Mbappé and Yamal as winners appeared online before the final presentation, prompting questions about how the confusion had occurred.
The conflicting posts were not consistent with the eventual result, which was confirmed when Kane received the men’s award on stage.
The incident became one of the evening’s talking points, but it did not alter the official outcome. Kane was the winner, Yamal extended his remarkable run in the young-player category, and Putellas took the women’s crown.
A night of milestones in London
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will be remembered for several defining moments: Kane ending England’s long wait for another winner, Yamal claiming a third consecutive Kopa Trophy, Putellas winning the women’s award and Spain collecting honours across multiple categories.
