Ballon d'Or 2026 rankings in full: Harry Kane wins award but where do Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi rank?

Harry Kane became the archetypal English subordinate to triumph the prestigious Ballon d'Or for 25 years connected Monday night, erstwhile he was crowned the champion footballer successful the satellite astatine the 2026 ceremonial successful London.

Michael Owen was the past Englishman to instrumentality location the award, backmost successful 2001, and Kane follows him arsenic the nation's 5th ever victor aft Stanley Matthews successful 1956, Bobby Charlton successful 1966, and Kevin Keegan successful some 1978 and 1979.

The Bayern Munich striker bushed retired the likes of Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe to assertion apical spot, and fewer tin reason against his credentials aft an immense run for some nine and country.

Here, Sports Mole runs down the Ballon d'Or 2026 rankings successful full.

Ballon d'Or 2026 rankings successful full

Ballon d'Or 2026: Full Rankings

How were the Ballon d'Or 2026 rankings decided?

One 100 'specialised journalists' voted successful the men's variation of this year's Ballon d'Or, which was awarded for the period between August 3, 2025 and July 19, 2026, the time of the World Cup final.

The voting was based connected 3 criteria, successful bid of importance:

1. Individual performances, of a decisive and awesome nature. 
2. Team performances and titles won. 
3. Class and just play.

Why did Harry Kane triumph the Ballon d'Or?

Welcome to the Ballon d'Or family, Harry! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/KpuSk49OmY

Bayern and England striker Kane delivered an unprecedented play for some nine and country, scoring a staggering 73 goals portion providing a further 8 assists for his teammates.

There was overmuch statement successful the buildup to this juncture astir whether earthy output was the astir invaluable facet erstwhile it comes to judging an attacker's performance.

However, the 33-year-old's 61 goals crossed each competitions for the German champions was 19 much than immoderate different subordinate successful Europe's apical 5 leagues could muster, and marked the astir for a nine triumph a azygous play successful 11 years, since Cristiano Ronaldo's 61 for Real Madrid.

In fact, lone Lionel Messi's tally of 82 for Barcelona and Argentina successful 2011-12 ranks higher amongst players successful Europe's apical 5 leagues.

Kane besides broke galore records passim the campaign, including the most-ever goals successful 1 word for Bayern, surpassing legends of the crippled specified arsenic Robert Lewandowski and Gerd Muller.

England's talisman besides became the highest scorer for his state astatine World Cups with 14, overtaking Gary Linker by netting six times during this summer's tourney successful North America.

Harry Kane's goals by competition:

• Bundesliga: 36
• Champions League: 14
• DFB-Pokal: 10
• International: 12 (six astatine World Cup 2026)