Harry Kane wins 2026 Ballon d'Or award

Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Tottenham academy graduate to claim the award in a ceremony held in London on Monday, 26 October.

Kane, who came through Spurs' academy ranks and holds the club's all-time goalscoring record, was recognised by his peers as the world's best footballer.

The forward scored 280 goals in 435 appearances for Tottenham before departing for FC Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023. He broke Jimmy Greaves' long-standing club record of 266 goals with his 267th strike in a 1-0 win over Manchester City in February 2023.

Kane joined the Tottenham academy in 2009 and signed his first professional contract the following year. His debut came against Hearts in the Europa League in August 2011, with his first club goal arriving that December at Shamrock Rovers. Loan spells at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City and Leicester City preceded his permanent breakthrough in the 2013/14 season.

His first full campaign as a regular starter in 2014/15 produced 31 goals across all competitions, including 21 in the Premier League, and also brought his first England cap — a debut he marked with a goal within seconds of coming on. He is now England's all-time leading goalscorer, a record he set during his time in north London, and has made the joint-most appearances in the country's history.

In 2020/21, Kane recorded more Premier League assists than any other player while also winning the Golden Boot — making him the first player ever to claim both the Premier League Playmaker award and the Golden Boot in the same season.

Since joining Bayern Munich, Kane has continued to break records in Bavaria. The Ballon d'Or is the highest individual honour in world football.