Harry Kane has been crowned the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner, becoming the fifth Englishman to claim the prestigious individual award, 25 years after Michael Owen last won it for England. The latest triumph marks the sixth time an English player has received the honour, following previous victories by Stanley Matthews in 1956, Bobby Charlton in 1966, and Kevin Keegan in 1978 and 1979.

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi remains the most successful player in Ballon d’Or history, having won the award eight times. Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo ranks second with five victories.

The Ballon d’Or was first introduced by France Football magazine in 1956 to recognise the best player in world football. Between 2010 and 2015, the award was merged with FIFA’s World Player of the Year prize, creating a joint honour for the world’s top footballer.

From 2016 onwards, France Football and FIFA returned to presenting separate awards. The Ballon d’Or ceremony was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the first time since its introduction that the trophy was not awarded.

Every Ballon d’Or Winner in History

2026: Harry Kane (ENG)

2025: Ousmane Dembele (FRA)

2024: Rodri (ESP)

2023: Lionel Messi (ARG)

2022: Karim Benzema (FRA)

2021: Lionel Messi (ARG)

2020: No award

2019: Lionel Messi (ARG)

2018: Luka Modric (CRO)

2017: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)

2016: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)

2015: Lionel Messi (ARG)

2014: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)

2013: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)

2012: Lionel Messi (ARG)

2011: Lionel Messi (ARG)

2010: Lionel Messi (ARG)

2009: Lionel Messi (ARG)

2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)

2007: Kaka (BRA)

2006: Fabio Cannavaro (ITA)

2005: Ronaldinho (BRA)

2004: Andriy Shevchenko (UKR)

2003: Pavel Nedved (CZE)

2002: Ronaldo (BRA)

2001: Michael Owen (ENG)

2000: Luis Figo (POR)

1999: Rivaldo (BRA)

1998: Zinedine Zidane (FRA)

1997: Ronaldo (BRA)

1996: Matthias Sammer (GER)

1995: George Weah (LBR)

1994: Hristo Stoichkov (BUL)

1993: Roberto Baggio (ITA)

1992: Marco van Basten (NED)

1991: Jean-Pierre Papin (FRA)

1990: Lothar Matthaus (GER)

1989: Marco van Basten (NED)

1988: Marco van Basten (NED)

1987: Ruud Gullit (NED)

1986: Igor Belanov (UKR)

1985: Michel Platini (FRA)

1984: Michel Platini (FRA)

1983: Michel Platini (FRA)

1982: Paolo Rossi (ITA)

1981: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (GER)

1980: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (GER)

1979: Kevin Keegan (ENG)

1978: Kevin Keegan (ENG)

1977: Allan Simonsen (DEN)

1976: Franz Beckenbauer (GER)

1975: Oleg Blokhin (UKR)

1974: Johan Cruyff (NED)

1973: Johan Cruyff (NED)

1972: Franz Beckenbauer (GER)

1971: Johan Cruyff (NED)

1970: Gerd Muller (GER)

1969: Gianni Rivera (ITA)

1968: George Best (NIR)

1967: Florian Albert (HUN)

1966: Bobby Charlton (ENG)

1965: Eusebio (POR)

1964: Denis Law (SCO)

1963: Lev Yashin (RUS)

1962: Josef Masopust (CZE)

1961: Omar Sivori (ITA)

1960: Luis Suarez (ESP)

1959: Alfredo Di Stefano (ESP)

1958: Raymond Kopa (FRA)

1957: Alfredo Di Stefano (ESP)

1956: Stanley Matthews (ENG)