Sports

Harry Kane wins first Ballon d'Or, ending England's 25-year wait

Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in London, becoming the first Englishman to take the award in 25 years. Alexia Putellas reclaimed the women's prize for a third time. The event was preceded by confusion after material naming three different winners of the men's award was published before the ceremony began.

BBC عربيTuesday, October 27, 2026, 02:29Covered by 3 sources

Illustrative photo: Golden football trophy on grass beside a goalpost and white pitch line. Photo by My Profit Tutor on Unsplash

Why it matters

The award draws close attention from Arab football fans, who closely follow European leagues and individual honours. The confusion before the ceremony highlights how hard it is to keep results secret in an age of instant publishing.

Background

The Ballon d'Or is an annual individual award for the best players in football, with separate categories for men and women. The ceremony draws wide attention, and the identity of the winners is closely followed by the media.

Key points

According to Sky News Arabia, the ceremony took place on Monday.
Sky News Arabia described Kane's season as exceptional, saying he shone with both his club and his national team.
According to BBC Arabic, the London ceremony also saw Yamal, De la Fuente and Simeone honored.

How outlets covered it

All three outlets agreed that Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or and that he plays for Bayern Munich and England. BBC Arabic offered the most detail: England's 25-year wait, Bonmatí's win in the women's category, and the confusion before the ceremony caused by materials published in advance. Sky News Arabia focused on the award returning to England after 25 years and on Kane's exceptional season. CNN Arabic's text was limited to announcing the win, while its headline turned to how Mbappé and Yamal reacted after losing the award.