Kane edges Mbappe to win 2026 Ballon d'Or as Mourinho praises 'deserved' victory
Harry Kane clinched the 2026 Ballon d'Or with 1,055 points, narrowly beating Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe who collected 1,027 points in one of the closest votes in recent years. The announcement came earlier today ahead of Madrid's LaLiga match against Racing Santander this weekend.
The 33-year-old England captain adds the sport's most prestigious individual honour to his cabinet after a prolific season with Bayern Munich. Mbappe, 27, was widely tipped to win following his high-profile move to Madrid but fell 28 points short.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, who oversees Mbappe, publicly backed the decision: "I am very happy for Harry Kane. He deserves the Ballon d'Or, he is a great player." The Portuguese coach's gracious response contrasts with typical managerial rivalry.
Kane becomes the first English player to win since 2001. The voting breakdown shows a divided football world—early reports indicate Nigeria's delegates backed Kane, though full country-by-country breakdowns are still emerging.
With both players in their prime, the 2027 race is already shaping up as a two-horse contest. Will Mbappe use this snub as fuel for another Champions League push with Madrid?