England captain Harry Kane beat France international Kylian Mbappe by just 28 points to win the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or, following one of the closest contests in the award’s history.
Key Highlights
- Harry Kane polled 1,055 points to Kylian Mbappe’s 1,027 in the 2026 Ballon d’Or vote.
- The 28-point margin is the narrowest since Messi edged Van Dijk by seven points in 2019.
- Kane is the first Englishman to win since Michael Owen in 2001, and the fifth overall.
- He scored 73 goals in 65 matches, winning a league and cup double with Bayern Munich.
- Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho praised Mbappe’s “class” in defeat.
Voting figures released on Saturday showed that the Bayern Munich striker secured 1,055 points, narrowly ahead of Real Madrid forward Mbappe, who finished second with 1,027 points.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal placed third with 881 points, followed by Rodri, who collected 726 points, while Argentina legend Lionel Messi finished fifth with 612 points.
Kane’s victory marks the first time an Englishman has won the prestigious individual award since Michael Owen claimed the honour in 2001.
One Of The Closest Races In History
The 28-point margin was the narrowest since Messi edged Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk by seven points in 2019.
The men’s Ballon d’Or has twice been decided by a single point. England’s Bobby Charlton defeated Portugal’s Eusebio by the smallest possible margin in 1966, while Germany defender Matthias Sammer recorded a similar victory over Brazilian striker Ronaldo in 1996.
Ronaldo, who presented Kane with his award at a ceremony in London on Monday, later won the Ballon d’Or in 1997 and 2002, offering a reminder that finishing second does not necessarily end a player’s chances of claiming the honour in subsequent years.
Kane secured the award after an outstanding campaign in which he scored 73 goals in 65 matches, helping Bayern Munich win a league and cup double while also leading England to a third-place finish at the World Cup.
The striker’s prolific scoring record and contribution to his club’s success strengthened his position among the leading contenders for the individual prize.
Kane is now the fifth English player to win the Ballon d’Or, following Stanley Matthews in 1956, Charlton in 1966, Kevin Keegan in 1978 and 1979, and Owen in 2001.
The award is determined by votes from 100 journalists using a weighted points system.
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Mourinho Praises Mbappe’s Response
Meanwhile, Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has praised Mbappe for the way he handled missing out on the award, describing the French forward as mature and respectful.
Speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s La Liga meeting with Racing Santander on Sunday, Mourinho said Mbappe had responded to the disappointment with dignity.
“Kylian is very intelligent and mature. He has very high self-esteem. And at the same time, he has class,” Mourinho said.
“The way he handled the Ballon d’Or for Harry… all I saw and felt was class. And respect.”
Mourinho added that recognising another player’s achievement was important, even when a footballer believed he had done enough to win the award himself.
“It’s one thing to know you’re the best, and another to have respect for someone who has also worked hard to win a trophy. All I see in him is class,” he said.
Mbappe’s second-place finish represents his best performance in the Ballon d’Or voting, with the French forward finishing comfortably ahead of third-placed Yamal.
2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or Top 10
The final standings were led by Kane and Mbappe, with several established stars completing the top 10.
- Harry Kane — 1,055 points
- Kylian Mbappe — 1,027 points
- Lamine Yamal — 881 points
- Rodri — 726 points
- Lionel Messi — 612 points
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — 541 points
- Ousmane Dembele — 418 points
- Erling Haaland — 378 points
- Michael Olise — 296 points
- Fabian Ruiz — 201 points
Kane’s triumph places him among the most distinguished English players in football history, while Mbappe’s narrow defeat highlights the competitiveness of this year’s race for the sport’s most prestigious individual honour.
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