LONDON (AP) — Harry Kane won the Ballon d’Or on Monday and became the first Englishman in 25 years to receive the prestigious prize.
The Bayern Munich striker scored 73 goals for club and country last season and smashed scoring records in Germany and led England to a third-place finish at the World Cup this past summer.
Kane was the top vote-getter among nominees who included Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
Earlier, Spain star Alexia Putellas
won her third women’s Ballon d’Or after leading her former club Barcelona to multiple trophies last season including the Women’s Champions League.
Putellas, who joined London City Lionesses in the offseason, also helped Spain win the Women’s Nations League last December.
The 32-year-old midfielder ended Spain teammate Aitana Bonmati’s three-year reign.
Putellas won the prestigious award in back-to-back seasons — 2021 and ‘22 — before tearing her ACL and seeing Bonmati rise to stardom. Bonmati, who completed her women’s Ballon d’Or three-peat in 2025, was not on this year’s shortlist after breaking her leg in December.
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