The Harry Kane Ballon d'Or win puts the England captain among an elite few English players named football's finest individual performer. Kane is one of only a handful of Englishmen to have claimed the coveted Ballon d’Or. Only four of his countrymen had previously taken the men's award, so Kane becomes number five. The honour followed a superb 2025/26 campaign, which he divided between Bayern Munich and England.
Counting appearances for both club and country over the past season, Kane, who leads England, netted 73 times. His triumph ends a quarter-century drought for English players, as Michael Owen in 2001 was the last to receive it.
Below, we list the Englishmen who have taken the Ballon d’Or, along with the years in which they secured football's most prestigious individual award.
The English Ballon d'Or winners, year by year
- The 1956 award went to Sir Stanley Matthews
- Sir Bobby Charlton took the award in 1966
- Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979)
- Michael Owen (2001)
- Harry Kane (2026)
Matthews, who received a knighthood in 1956 and became Sir Stanley Matthews
Matthews, the Blackpool winger and an all-time legend, became the inaugural Ballon d’Or recipient in 1956. His brilliant dribbling and ability to leave defenders behind earned him wide acclaim. Aged 41, he set a mark that has never been beaten: no one older has ever collected the trophy.
Charlton, who received a knighthood in 1966 and became Sir Bobby Charlton
Charlton's Ballon d'Or arrived in 1966, the very year England won their one and only FIFA World Cup. The Manchester United great was central to the Three Lions' success on home soil, netting three times at the tournament, two of them against Portugal in the last four.
Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979)
Keegan became the earliest Englishman to take the Ballon d'Or in back-to-back years, winning it in 1978 and again in 1979 during his time at German club Hamburg. What he did in Germany marked him out as one of the finest players of his era.
Michael Owen (2001)
Owen was the fourth Englishman awarded the prize, following a superb year at Liverpool. In the 2000/01 campaign, the club collected the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup, and he scored vital goals on the way. Pace, finishing and unforgettable displays for his club and his country saw him edge out the rivals.
How the Harry Kane Ballon d'Or was won
Kane was the Englishman to be crowned for a 5th time in the nation's history, after a remarkable campaign for Bayern Munich and England. He hit 73 goals in 65 appearances, and Bayern lifted the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and Franz Beckenbauer Supercup.
He also played his part as England finished in bronze-medal position at the 2026 World Cup, their strongest showing since the 1966 triumph.
What the win means for English football
With Kane's win, England's long drought for a Ballon d'Or holder came to an end, and he now sits among the most celebrated names in the nation's football history.
Although five Englishmen have been awarded the trophy, only Kevin Keegan has managed to win it in back-to-back years. The Harry Kane Ballon d'Or triumph joins a list of laureates that stretches across seven decades.
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