Harry Kane claimed the men’s Ballon d’Or on Tuesday, becoming the first English player in 25 years to receive the prestigious award. The Bayern Munich striker scored 73 goals across club and international competitions last season, setting new scoring records in Germany and leading England to a third-place finish at the FIFA World Cup held this past summer. Kane topped the voting over notable contenders including Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, and Lionel Messi.

In the women’s category, Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas secured her third Ballon d’Or, adding to her previous wins in 2021 and 2022. Putellas was instrumental in guiding her former club, Barcelona, to multiple titles last season, including the UEFA Women’s Champions League. After transferring to London City Lionesses during the offseason, she also played a key role in Spain’s victory in the Women’s Nations League last December. At 32 years old, Putellas ended the three-year winning streak of her Spain teammate Aitana Bonmati. Bonmati, who had completed a women’s Ballon d’Or three-peat in 2025, was absent from this year’s shortlist due to a leg fracture sustained in December.

Meanwhile, in French Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) returned to the top of the standings with a 2-0 victory over Lyon. The match was decided when substitute Senny Mayulu scored from about 60 yards seven minutes after entering the field, breaking Lyon’s resistance. This win marked PSG’s eighth consecutive victory across all competitions. Both teams had entered the match level on 14 points; with the win, PSG moved one point ahead of Rennes, while Lyon remained in fifth place.