Harry Kane has become the first English player in 25 years to win the Ballon d’Or. He beat Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal to claim football’s top individual award.
The award was presented at a ceremony at the London Palladium on Monday. It was organised by French magazine France Football and voted on by 100 journalists from around the world.
The 33-year-old striker received the award after a remarkable season for Bayern Munich and England.
He scored 73 goals for club and country, helping Bayern enjoy a successful season in domestic and European competitions.
Kane is now the fifth English player to win the Ballon d’Or. The last English winner was Michael Owen in 2001.
What did Kane say after winning the award?
Kane said winning the award in London made the moment even more special. He also thanked everyone who voted for him and acknowledged the difficulty of the decision.
How did Mbappé and Yamal perform?
Mbappé was among the leading contenders, while Yamal also enjoyed a successful season.
The three players were mistakenly announced as winners on the official Ballon d’Or website several hours before the ceremony.
Kane received the 70th Ballon d’Or amid cheers and chants from the crowd. His win came shortly after Alexia Putellas won the women’s award for the third time.
How is the Ballon d’Or winner selected?
The Ballon d’Or is awarded based on votes from an international jury of journalists. Each juror ranks 10 players from a shortlist of 30. The player with the highest total points wins the award.
