Harry Kane has been named the world’s leading footballer at an awards ceremony in London, becoming the first Englishman to receive the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen claimed it in 2001.
The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker is only the fifth player from England to earn the honour, joining Stanley Matthews (1956), Bobby Charlton (1966) and Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979).
Scotland’s Denis Law, who won in 1964, and Northern Ireland’s George Best, the 1968 recipient, are the other winners from the United Kingdom.
France and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe took second place, with Barcelona’s Spanish attacker Lamine Yamal finishing third.
Kane admitted that few people, including himself, would have expected him to reach such heights.
He explained that his journey featured numerous setbacks and difficult moments, particularly during the early stages of his career, when he was not widely viewed as a future superstar.
The striker said he had to remain patient, work relentlessly and overcome his own doubts by showing confidence and determination.
According to Kane, those experiences kept him grounded and motivated him to continue developing after reaching the highest level.
England manager Thomas Tuchel expressed his delight at Kane’s triumph, describing the achievement as an enormous honour.
Prince William also praised the former Tottenham Hotspur forward, calling him an outstanding captain and an exceptional player.
Kane registered 61 goals across 51 club appearances last season, setting a new record for a Bayern player in a single campaign. When his England games are included, he produced 73 goals and eight assists in 65 matches.
Only one footballer representing a club in Europe’s five leading leagues has recorded more goals during a single season.
Kane secured the individual prize despite missing out on the sport’s two biggest trophies last season, following semi-final defeats in both the World Cup and the Champions League.
The England captain is also the first Bayern footballer to collect the Ballon d’Or since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge achieved the feat in 1981.
Wembley’s famous arches were illuminated in gold on Monday evening to mark Kane’s achievement.
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