Alexia Putellas and Harry Kane win top 2026 Ballon d'Or awards

Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas and England captain Harry Kane claimed the top honors at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on October 26, 2026. BBC News, rte.ie, and the Daily Mail reported that both players secured the awards presented by France Football. [1][2][6]

Putellas, 32, won the Ballon d'Or Feminin for a record-equalling third time, according to BBC News. BBC News and Reuters reported that her victory keeps the award in Spanish hands for a sixth consecutive year. Putellas previously won the prize in 2021 and 2022, matching her Spain team-mate Aitana Bonmati, who won it in 2023, 2024, and 2025. [1][11]

Kane became the first English player to win the men's Ballon d'Or in 25 years, since Michael Owen received the award in 2001, rte.ie and the Daily Mail both reported. rte.ie detailed that Kane earned the award after scoring 73 goals last season for club and country, including 61 goals in 51 matches for Bayern Munich during a domestic league and cup double. [2][6]

Putellas played for Espanyol, Levante, and Barcelona before captaining Barcelona to a quadruple in 2025-26 and joining Women's Super League side London City Lionesses in July, according to BBC News and Wikipedia. [1][13]

The ceremony took place at London's Palladium Theatre, as FTMQ News reported earlier. The Daily Mail reported that police pushed back large crowds attempting to gain red-carpet access outside the venue before the event. [5][15]