Harry Kane has become the first English player to win the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001, crowned the world's best player at a ceremony in London. The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker is the fifth Englishman to win the award, joining Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, and Kevin Keegan. Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe finished second, while Barcelona's Lamine Yamal placed third.
Kane reflected on his journey, saying, "I had to go through many ups and downs... I was never the person that people thought was going to be the superstar." He credited self-belief and determination for his success. England manager Thomas Tuchel called it a "huge honour," while Prince William praised him as a "brilliant captain" and "remarkable player."
Kane scored 61 goals in 51 club matches last season — the most ever by a Bayern player in a single campaign. Including England duties, he tallied 73 goals and eight assists in 65 games. Despite not winning the Champions League or World Cup, his individual output was unmatched. He finished as Bundesliga top scorer with 36 goals, netted 14 in the Champions League, and scored a hat-trick in the German Cup final.
Only Lionel Messi (82 goals, 2011–12) has scored more in a single season among Europe's top leagues. Former England stars Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy lauded Kane's relentless goalscoring, with Shearer stating, "The winner of the Ballon d'Or should be Harry Kane." To celebrate, the Wembley arches were lit in gold — a fitting tribute to a historic achievement.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing