Harry Kane has become the first English footballer in 25 years to win the Ballon d’Or, following his outstanding 2025-26 season with Bayern Munich.
The 33-year-old striker scored 73 goals during the campaign, securing the individual award previously won by Michael Owen in 2001.
This year’s ceremony was held in London rather than Paris, marking a departure from the event’s usual location to commemorate the award’s 70th anniversary and its first winner, Sir Stanley Matthews.
However, Kane’s victory prompted criticism from supporters of fellow contenders Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, with some questioning whether the location of the ceremony had influenced the outcome.
Guti Questions Decision to Hold Ceremony in London
Former Real Madrid midfielder Guti suggested that the decision to move the ceremony to London was suspicious because Kane, an English player, ultimately received the award.
Speaking on Spanish television programme El Chiringuito, Guti described the coincidence as remarkable and agreed with another panel member who suggested the outcome might have been orchestrated.
Guti also pointed to Kane’s facial expression when his name was announced, arguing that the striker appeared surprised by the result.
He claimed Kane had expected Yamal and Mbappe to finish ahead of him.
The ceremony’s relocation was intended to honour Sir Stanley Matthews, the first recipient of the Ballon d’Or. Members of Matthews’ family attended the event and appeared on the red carpet.
Yamal’s Uncle Defends Barcelona Star
Abdul, the uncle of Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, also criticised the outcome, insisting that his nephew deserved the main award.
Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena SER after the announcement, he praised Yamal’s performances and achievements during the season.
“Everyone knows it. If you love football, you go to see Lamine, not Harry Kane,” he said.
He also argued that Yamal’s age meant he would have further opportunities to win the Ballon d’Or, predicting that the teenager could collect the award five times.
Yamal instead received the Young Talent of the Year award for the third consecutive year.
During the ceremony, co-host Thierry Henry asked whether that was the award Yamal had wanted. The Barcelona and Spain player responded modestly, saying he believed the honour belonged to his team-mate Pau Cubarsi.
Ballon d’Or Editor Confirms Tight Race Between Kane and Mbappe
Despite the speculation surrounding the result, France Football editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia said the competition between Kane and Mbappe had been extremely close.
Garcia explained that Mbappe had led the voting for much of the process before Kane moved back into contention.
He said the final points difference between the two players was smaller than the 41-point gap separating Rodri and Vinicius Junior in 2024, which had itself been considered a narrow margin.
Garcia described Kane and Mbappe as the two leading contenders and said the final decision had been determined by only a small number of points.
Mbappe and Dembele Draw Attention During Ceremony
Footage from the London Palladium appeared to show Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, the previous year’s winner, remaining seated rather than standing to shake Kane’s hand after the award announcement.
The moment attracted attention amid the reaction to the closely contested result.
Kane, however, dismissed suggestions of tension between the players and continued celebrating his achievement.
Kane Celebrates Before Returning to Bayern Munich
Following the ceremony, Kane celebrated with his wife, Katie Goodland, at London nightclub Cirque Le Soir.
Former team-mates and colleagues, including Eric Dier, Tim Sherwood and James Maddison, joined the celebrations.
The party featured Champagne bottles and sparklers as Kane marked his first Ballon d’Or victory.
By Tuesday lunchtime, the striker had returned to training with Bayern Munich as the club prepared for its midweek DFB-Pokal fixture against Magdeburg.
Kane limited his celebrations ahead of the match, having returned to Germany following the ceremony in London.
