Harry Kane wins the Ballon d'Or, the first English winner in 25 years

A first English winner in 25 years

Harry Kane was named the men's Ballon d'Or winner at the London Palladium on 26 October, ahead of Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. He is the fifth English player to win the award and the first since Michael Owen in 2001, alongside Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Charlton in the list of English winners. Der Standard counts 73 goals in 65 games for Bayern and the national team. Alexia Putellas took the women's award, although The Athletic's pre-ceremony survey had most respondents backing Barcelona midfielder Patri Guijarro, with Putellas in third place.

Bayern and the Bundesliga

Bayerischer Rundfunk reports that no Bayern player had won the award since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981, a 45-year wait. Several Bayern stars narrowly missed out, including Franck Ribéry in 2013, Manuel Neuer in 2014 and Robert Lewandowski in 2020 and 2021. The BBC notes that Matthias Sammer was the last Bundesliga player to win it, in 1996, after he captained Borussia Dortmund to two successive league titles. Lothar Matthaus, the 1991 winner and the most capped German player, said the benefit runs in both directions.

“I don't think Kane would've won the Ballon d'Or at any other club he could've joined.”

The BBC adds that the league can show players it produces the world's best, while Bayern can show it attracts the very best talent.

Reactions from Downing Street and the league

Prime Minister Andy Burnham sent congratulations, and a Downing Street spokesperson said:

“To be the first Englishman to win it in 25 years is an extraordinary achievement, and what a moment to do it here at home.”

The spokesperson also said the Prime Minister hopes for another trophy with England 'before too long', a reference to the 2028 European Championship that England co-hosts. Bundesliga chief executive Marc Lenz called the result a tremendous recognition of Kane's performances.

“He is a fantastic role model for young players and an outstanding ambassador for the Bundesliga.”

Bundesliga images were also projected onto London sites such as The Strand and Tate Modern, some reading 'England Hero. Bundesliga Legend'. Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen also responded to the win.

A chaotic evening in London

The BBC describes it as the first Ballon d'Or held in London in the award's 70-year history, at the London Palladium. Oxford Street was traffic-free the same day, and crowds at the entrance delayed many guests, so the start was pushed back 45 minutes. The ceremony then ran nearly two and a half hours, and hosts Kate Scott and Thierry Henry paused on several occasions while the audience shouted players' names and booed during commercial breaks.

The confusion began hours before the start, when the official Ballon d'Or website published an article naming Kane as men's winner. Similar pieces about other favourites were also found, and the Ballon d'Or team has since apologised. Journalists could put questions to Putellas, but only men were selected to ask Kane a question, and several female journalists' attempts appeared to be ignored. Outside, barriers were scaled, broken and ripped down, and social media footage appeared to show fans clashing with security and police. The BBC has approached the Metropolitan Police for comment.

What comes next

Downing Street has not pre-empted the honours process, though it has hinted at a knighthood for Kane. Ministers, departments and private individuals can all make recommendations to the honours committee. Kane holds an MBE, awarded after England reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, and players are often not knighted until after retirement. The next target is the 2028 European Championship, which England co-hosts with Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.