LONDON - Harry Kane has been named the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or winner, the first English man to win football's most prestigious individual trophy in 25 years, according to The Guardian's report on the ceremony. The Guardian's headline described the result as ending England's 25-year wait for a men's Ballon d'Or. The outlet said Kane's name emerged from the final envelope at a ceremony at the Palladium Theatre in London, drawing “wild cheers” inside the auditorium.
The Guardian reported that the announcement came about two hours into the ceremony and that Kane has scored 91 goals for his country. The same evening, Alexia Putellas picked up the women's award, the outlet said.
Before the ceremony, a BBC Sport preview of the award published by BBC News gathered the views of its pundits on who should win. That piece said the winner would be announced in London on Monday and asked who was going to claim the “showpiece award”.
The two reports differ in emphasis. BBC News framed the outcome as an open question ahead of the announcement, while The Guardian reported the result itself, with Barney Ronay writing from the London Palladium.
The summaries available for this report do not include vote totals, the runners-up, or the remaining results from the ceremony. This account is therefore limited to the facts stated in the BBC News preview and The Guardian's report.
Sources: BBC News: Who should win the men's Ballon d'Or? BBC Sport pundits have their say; The Guardian: Harry Kane ends England’s 25-year wait for a men’s Ballon d’Or.