Harry Kane claims Ballon d’Or as Yamal and Putellas lead youth and women’s honours

Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d’Or at the ceremony in London, with Alexia Putellas named the world’s best women’s player.

The event was the 70th edition of the annual awards organised by France Football and recognised performances during the 2025-26 season. For only the fifth time, the awards were judged on a football season rather than a calendar year, with achievements between 3 August 2025 and 19 July 2026 taken into account. The ceremony was broadcast live at 21:00 Saudi Arabia and Egypt time.

Kane, the Bayern Munich and England striker, finished ahead of Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. Rodri, listed with Manchester City / Barcelona, was fourth, while Lionel Messi of Inter Miami placed fifth.

The remaining men’s top 10 were Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Paris Saint-Germain in sixth, Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain in seventh, Erling Haaland of Manchester City in eighth, Michael Olise of Bayern Munich in ninth and Fabian Ruiz of Paris Saint-Germain in 10th.

Jude Bellingham was 11th, followed by Pau Cubarsi, Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha, Declan Rice, Ferran Torres, Vinicius Junior, Marc Cucurella, Joao Neves, William Pacho, Gabriel Magalhaes, Lautaro Martinez, Nuno Mendes, Luis Diaz, Marquinhos, Dayot Upamecano, Bruno Fernandes, Julian Quinones, William Saliba and Sadio Mane.

Putellas, of Barcelona / London City Lionesses and Spain, won the women’s Ballon d’Or. Katalina “Kata” Kol of Barcelona was 15th, while other leading positions included Mariona Caldentey 13th, Wendy Renard 14th, Maria Leon 16th, Esmee Brugts 17th, Barbara Banda 18th, Tessa Wullaert 19th, Selma Bacha 20th, Scarlett Camberos 21st, Manaaka Matsukubo 22nd, Momoko Tanikawa and Kerstin Casparij joint 23rd, Caroline Weir 25th, Alex Greenwood 26th, Rose Lavelle 27th, and Vivianne Miedema, Melvine Malard and Lorena joint 28th. Yui Hasegawa was 12th and Klara Buhl 11th.

Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best young men’s player, ahead of Pau Cubarsi and Warren Zaire-Emery. Lennart Karl, Yan Diomande, Ayoub Bouaddi, Karim Alaibegovic, Eli Junior Kroupi, Ibrahim Maza and Johan Manzambi completed the top 10.

Vicky Lopez won the women’s Kopa Trophy. Unai Simon received the Yashin Trophy for the best men’s goalkeeper, while Kata Kol won the women’s award.

Luis de la Fuente was named the best men’s coach and Barcelona women’s manager Pere Romeu won the women’s coaching award. Barcelona were named the best women’s team and Paris Saint-Germain the best men’s team.

Bukayo Saka received the Socrates Award. Kane also won the Gerd Muller Trophy for the best men’s striker, while Charlene Corral was recognised as the best women’s forward.