Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has claimed the Ballon d’Or award for the best men’s footballer for the 2025/26 season, with the accolade presented to him in London.

The record goalscorer for Spurs becomes only the sixth British player to win the prestigious award, with Michael Owen the last to do so 25 years ago in 2001.

It was a closely contested honour, with Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal among the contenders following their own impressive campaigns.

Kane, however, triumphed after winning the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup with Bayern Munich.

Alongside team success, Kane enjoyed a remarkable individual season. In 31 Bundesliga appearances – 26 starts – he scored 36 goals, averaging a strike every 66.1 minutes. In the UEFA Champions League, he netted 14 times in 13 starts as Bayern reached the semi-finals.

He was equally prolific in the domestic cups, scoring 10 goals in six outings, including a hat-trick in the DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart.

Harry Kane’s 2025/26 season by numbers

For England, Kane was just as impressive, leading the Three Lions to the semi-finals of the World Cup and scoring six times at the 2026 finals – three of which were match-winners. In doing so, he succeeded Gary Lineker as his country’s record World Cup goalscorer.

Harry Kane’s crowning moment came with a thank you to Tottenham Hotspur

Kane’s crowning moment came when CBS reporter Kate Abdo announced him as the 2025/26 Ballon d’Or winner and the best player in world football.

It was a poetic night, with Harry Kane receiving the award in London – the city where he made his name with Tottenham Hotspur. Visibly emotional, the 33-year-old delivered his winning speech, thanking those who had supported him throughout his career, including his boyhood club.

He said as relayed by the Telegraph: “First of all, I am almost speechless. Lucky I have this list. It being in London is extra special and felt like a good omen. Thanks to those who voted for me, as it would have been tough this year. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners tonight.

“Thanks to my teammates who are here tonight. It is an honour to play for Bayern Munich and represent you. I want to say thank you to Tottenham Hotspur as well. I would not be where I am today without Tottenham. You allowed me to live my dream.

“I want to give a shout-out to some of my coaches down the years. You all played important roles at different stages of my career. When you surround yourself with the best people, you become a better person and player.

“Thank you to my brother Charlie and my mum and dad for all the time and sacrifices you have made for me. To my kids, you are the reason I do this. I cannot wait to see you, and I want to set a good example for you. I love you very much. To my wife Katie, my best friend, we have been through ups and downs. You are my biggest supporter. You always want the best for me and sacrifice yourself to help me achieve my dreams.”

Kane also paid homage to his time at Spurs, thanking those who helped him during his years in North London, including John McDermott, Tim Sherwood, Ryan Mason, Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Kane makes history with double triumph

The Ballon d’Or was not the only trophy Kane collected on the night. His goalscoring exploits were also recognised with the Gerd Müller Trophy, awarded to Europe’s top scorer.

No player scored more goals than the England captain, who netted 73 times in 65 appearances for club and country, while also providing eight assists.

Kane made history by becoming the first player ever to win both the Gerd Müller Trophy and the Ballon d’Or in the same year, cementing his legacy among football’s greatest.