Kane ends England's 25-year Ballon d'Or wait - how he bucked the trend

BBC News Monday 26 October 2026, 23:10 UTC 1 min read

Key Points

Harry Kane becomes the first English player to win the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001 after being crowned the world's best player at a ceremony in London.

Kane (PERSON) England (LOCATION) Ballon d'Or (ORG) Harry Kane (PERSON) English (ORG) Michael Owen (PERSON) London (LOCATION)

Originally published by BBC News Read original →

LONDON -- It is nine years since Harry Kane lingered at the back of the London Palladium at the end of a soccer awards show. The Best FIFA Football Awards in 2017 had just concluded with Cristiano Ronaldo handed the Men's top prize in addition to leading a team of the year including Lionel Messi, Neymar, Sergio Ramos and Gianluigi Buffon. As the audience filed out and a few mere mortals loitered in the hope of a selfie, Kane stood near the exit, casting a longing stare at the winners on stage.

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Kane ends England's 25-year Ballon d'Or wait - how he bucked the trend

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