Harry Kane became the first English player in 25 years to receive the Ballon d’Or, following a remarkable season highlighted by his goal-scoring feats for both club and country. The 33-year-old striker, now with Bayern Munich, scored a total of 73 goals last season, making him Europe’s leading scorer. His performance helped Bayern secure the Bundesliga title and the German Cup, including a hat trick in the cup final against Stuttgart.

At the FIFA World Cup this past summer, Kane further cemented his legacy by scoring six goals, surpassing Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading scorer in World Cup tournaments. His contributions helped England reach the semifinals, where they were defeated by eventual champions Argentina, before securing third place with a win against France. This marked England’s best World Cup finish in six decades. Kane’s individual success at the tournament also places him among the top five all-time scorers in World Cup history.

In the Ballon d’Or voting, Kane was followed by French forward Kylian Mbappé. Lamine Yamal, recognized as the world’s top young talent for the third consecutive year, finished behind Mbappé, along with Spain’s Rodri, the 2024 award winner, and Lionel Messi, who holds the record with eight Ballon d’Or awards.

The ceremony, held in London on Monday, also honored Spain’s Alexia Putellas, who won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time. The awards highlight the outstanding individual achievements in global football over the past year and recognize talents across both men’s and women’s competitions.