Let me just say it. Harry Kane is the best player in the world, and he has the trophy to prove it.
On Monday night in London, Kane was named the 2026 Men's Ballon d'Or winner. He is the first Englishman to win it since Michael Owen in 2001, and only the fifth ever, joining Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen. For a country that has waited a quarter of a century for this, it was a very good night to be English.
It was not a walkover. Kylian Mbappé finished second and Lamine Yamal third, and reports from the night described it as one of the closest races in years. Behind them it read Rodri fourth, Lionel Messi fifth, then Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland, Michael Olise and Fabián Ruiz.
Seventy-three goals in a season for club and country is the sort of number that ends arguments. Add the fact that he led England at a World Cup and became our all-time leading scorer at the tournament, and it is hard to see how anyone else was going to get past him.
"Wow, I'm almost speechless." That was Kane on stage, adding that being in London "felt like a good omen."
He called the win "beyond my wildest dreams" afterwards and was quick to credit his team-mates, naming Michael Olise at Bayern and Jude Bellingham with England. Thomas Tuchel called it a deserved win, and Prince William described him as a brilliant captain. That is the Kane we know. Years of goals, no fuss, and a thank-you to everyone else.
The ceremony started 45 minutes late because of London traffic, and the Ballon d'Or website managed to publish three articles naming three different winners (Kane, Yamal and Mbappé) before it was sorted out. All three were taken down. We have all pressed the wrong button, but that one is a bit awkward. Brazil's Ronaldo, a two-time winner himself, presented the award.
Women's Ballon d'Or: Alexia Putellas, her third, ahead of Ewa Pajor and Khadija Shaw.
Men's Young Talent: Lamine Yamal.
Men's Coach of the Year: Luis de la Fuente (Spain).
Men's Goalkeeper of the Year: Unai Simón (Athletic Club).
Men's Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain.
Striker of the Year: Harry Kane.
Socrates Award: Bukayo Saka, for his humanitarian work.
A special mention for Saka, who picked up the Socrates Award. It is easy to forget how much of what these players do happens off the pitch.
England have not had a winner since Owen in 2001, and for years it felt like Kane would be one of those great players who never quite got the individual recognition. That tells you something about how good Messi, Ronaldo, Modrić, Benzema, Rodri and Dembélé have been in recent years, but it also makes this one feel earned.
For us it is also a nice full-circle moment. Kane was the story of our World Cup series, from the two goals against Croatia to the record against DR Congo. To see him finish the year with the biggest individual prize in the sport is a great way to round it off.
Is it the right decision? Mbappé and Yamal both have a case, and Yamal is still only a teenager with a lot of years ahead of him. But if you look at the goals, the leadership and the moments that mattered, I think Kane is a deserving winner. Tell us if you disagree.
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