Harry Kane Claims Ballon d'Or as First Englishman to Win Since 2001

Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in London, becoming the first English player to claim the prestigious football award since 2001.

The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker scored 73 goals in 65 matches across all competitions last season, helping his German club secure a domestic treble.

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe finished second in the voting, while Barcelona attacker Lamine Yamal completed the top three at the event.

The victory marks a significant milestone for English football, as Kane joins past winners including Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan, and Michael Owen.

He secured the trophy despite not lifting either the Champions League or the World Cup last season, bucking a long-standing trend for the award.

Confidence had run high within the player's inner circle and the Bayern Munich delegation ahead of the gala, according to MARCA.

Accepting the prize at the London Palladium, the English captain expressed astonishment at receiving the honour in his home country.

"I am almost speechless. Being here in London has made it extra special," said Harry Kane, the Ballon d'Or winner.

"Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I can imagine it was tough this year," he added.

The 70th-anniversary ceremony took place in London instead of Paris to mark the milestone of Stanley Matthews winning the inaugural prize in 1956.

Lionel Messi, an eight-time winner of the award, did not attend the ceremony following a hectic schedule of travel and matches in the United States.

Jan-Christian Dreesen, CEO of Bayern Munich, praised the forward's exceptional scoring achievements prior to the gala event.

"Of course, we would be absolutely delighted if Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or," said Jan-Christian Dreesen, the CEO of Bayern Munich.

The winner was decided by a panel of 100 journalists representing the top-ranked nations in FIFA's global standings.