Harry Kane Wins Ballon d'Or, Ending 25-Year English Drought

Harry Kane scored 73 goals for club and country in the previous campaign. That total made him Europe's top scorer. It also secured him the Ballon d'Or on Monday. He is the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001.

Kane spent the last two decades battling for his place in the sport. He said his path was not straightforward. "I wasn't the kid who went straight to the top. I had to experience the downs," he said. He told young players that resilience and self-belief are necessary to reach the highest level.

His scoring record was established in two major arenas. At Bayern Munich, he helped the team win the Bundesliga and the German Cup. He scored a hat trick against Stuttgart in the cup final. The club also reached the Champions League semifinals.

Kane then captained England at the World Cup. He scored six goals in the tournament. That number passed Gary Lineker to make Kane England's all-time leading World Cup scorer. England finished third, beating France in the match for that position. It was England's best World Cup result in 60 years.

The ceremony took place at the London Palladium. It was the first time the event was held in London. The location honored Stanley Matthews, the first winner in 1956. Fans packed the streets near Oxford Circus. Many climbed light poles to see the athletes arrive. Kane stopped to sign autographs before entering the theater.

Kane thanked his wife Kate, calling her his best friend and biggest supporter. He also mentioned his parents and children. England coach Thomas Tuchel praised the striker. Tuchel said the Three Lions are lucky to have Kane as their leader. He added that he ran out of superlatives to describe Kane's performances.

Kane placed first in the voting. Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal followed him. Yamal won the best young talent award for the third straight year. Rodri, the 2024 winner, and Lionel Messi also finished in the top rankings. Messi holds the record for most wins with eight.

Kane plans to return to Munich for an early Tuesday flight. He must attend team training before a cup game on Wednesday. He said the celebration would be limited because of the upcoming fixture.

Earlier in the day, Alexia Putellas won the women's Ballon d'Or. It was her third award, a record equaling her previous total. She led Barcelona to the Women's Champions League title last season. She also helped Spain win the Women's Nations League. Putellas, who joined London City Lionesses in the offseason, ended the three-year reign of Aitana Bonmati.