KANE WINS 2026 BALLON D’OR AS YAMAL MAKES HISTORY, DE LA FUENTE NAMED BEST COACH

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has won the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to claim football’s most prestigious individual award, while Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal secured the Young Talent of the Year honour for the third consecutive time.

Kane was crowned at the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium on Monday, capping a remarkable 2025–26 campaign for club and country.

The England captain scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich, helping the German giants secure the domestic league and cup double. His overall tally, including international fixtures, rose to 73 goals.

The 33-year-old also scored six goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where England reached the semi-finals. His triumph ended a 25-year wait for an English winner, with former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker Michael Owen having last claimed the award in 2001.

Kane had earlier won the Men’s Striker of the Year award at the ceremony, further underlining his outstanding goal-scoring campaign.

Meanwhile, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente was named Men’s Coach of the Year following Spain’s reported triumph at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

De la Fuente beat Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique, Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany and Aston Villa manager Unai Emery to the award.

Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez presented the prize, although the announcement was briefly disrupted by a mix-up over the winner’s name on the card. Benitez eventually declared De la Fuente the recipient.

The Spanish coach exchanged handshakes with Emery and Spain international Yamal before stepping onto the stage to collect the award, adding another individual honour to his achievements with the national team.

Yamal, meanwhile, continued his remarkable rise by winning the Young Talent of the Year award for the third consecutive year.

The Barcelona winger topped the rankings ahead of club teammate Pau Cubarsí, who finished second, while Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery came third.

Germany’s Lennart Karl finished fourth, followed by Ivory Coast forward Yan Diomandé in fifth. Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi placed sixth, while Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Kerim Alajbegovic came seventh.

France’s Junior Kroupi finished eighth, Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza took ninth place, and Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi completed the top 10.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or honours the leading individual performers in football, with journalists voting on the nominees for the men’s award.

Kane’s victory, De la Fuente’s coaching recognition and Yamal’s third consecutive young-player honour were among the major talking points of Monday’s ceremony in London.