Kane beats Yamal, Mbappe to win Ballon d’Or

Harry Kane became the first Englishman in 25 years to win the Ballon d’Or, beating Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe to claim football’s most prestigious individual award in London on Monday.

The 33-year-old Bayern Munich forward scored 73 goals in 65 games for club and country last season, helping the German giants secure a domestic league and cup double. He also netted six times as England finished third at the World Cup.

“I love to represent my country and to bring this trophy back to them and have an English winner is something really special, especially here in London,” Kane told AFP.

Kane succeeds Michael Owen, England’s previous winner in 2001. Despite being England and Tottenham Hotspur’s all-time leading scorer, he had endured several painful defeats in major finals before moving to Bayern in 2023.

Spain’s Alexia Putellas claimed the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time, following Barcelona’s Champions League triumph last season. She previously won the award in 2021 and 2022.

Barcelona winger Yamal, 19, finished third after collecting the young talent award for the third consecutive year. Mbappe placed second despite finishing as the leading scorer in the World Cup, Champions League and La Liga.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was named men’s coach of the year, while Barcelona’s Pere Romeu won the women’s coaching award.

Paris Saint-Germain, despite winning their second consecutive Champions League title, missed out on the main individual honours but secured the men’s club of the year prize.

Spain’s Unai Simon and Cata Coll were named the best men’s and women’s goalkeepers respectively.

The ceremony, the first Ballon d’Or event held on English soil, began nearly an hour late because of London traffic.