Coming into the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony as the biggest favorite, Harry Kane didn’t disappoint and added his name to the list of Ballon d’Or winners. At the age of 33, Kane has also continued a recent trend of veteran players finally making the leap. That list, obviously, doesn’t include Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who hoisted the trophy early in their careers.
Instead, both Messi and Ronaldo had already won the award multiple times by the age of 33. Cristiano won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 (23 years old) and had already raised his total to five Ballon d’Ors by 33. That’s where Ronaldo still stands, as he is second in the all-time leaderboard. Considering Ronaldo wasn’t nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, there’s reason to believe that’s where CR7’s total will remain once he calls it a career.
As for Messi, he leads the way with his record eight Ballon d’Or wins. The Argentine won his first in 2009 at 22, and had six Ballon d’Or trophies by the age of 33. With his win in 2026, Kane has etched his name on the list of English players that have won the Ballon d’Or. Moreover, Kane is the third player to take home the award since Messi last won one in 2023.
Harry Kane’s resume to win 2026 Ballon d’Or
Even though Kane voiced his gratitude to Tottenham in his speech after winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or, it’s plain to see that his move to Bayern Munich completely changed the trajectory of his career. Last season, Kane hoisted the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal trophies while also reaching the UEFA Champions League semifinals.
Harry Kane at the 70th Ballon D’Or Ceremony in London, England.
Kane’s England side also fell in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. Still, his goals did all the talking. Kane scored 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern across all competitions, including 34 in the Bundesliga and 14 in the UEFA Champions League. During the World Cup, Kane scored six goals for the Three Lions, finishing tied for fifth among the tournament’s top scorers.
Kane beats Mbappe to 2026 Ballon d’Or
Although Kane finished behind Kylian Mbappe, who scored 10 goals at the 2026 World Cup and became the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer, he had the last laugh at the Palladium Theatre in London. Not just that, but Kane also won the 2026 Gerd Muller trophy during the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony in London.
Even though Mbappe had previously reacted to the possibility of Kane winning the Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo Nazario’s announcement still came as a shock to the French national team and Real Madrid star. As incredible as it sounds, Mbappe has yet to win a Ballon d’Or.
2026 Ballon d’Or final podium
Prior to the ceremony, rumors ran wild as viral posts that accidentally appeared on the award’s official website may have leaked the 2026 Ballon d’Or podium. In the end, there was fire behind the smoke. Just as the leak hinted, Kane finished on top, with Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, who is still without a Ballon d’Or at 19, rounding out the top three.
- Harry Kane: 2026 Ballon d’Or winner
- Kylian Mbappe: Second place
- Lamine Yamal: Third place
Messi and Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or wins
| Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo | |
| Ballon d’Or total wins | 8 (eight) | 5 (five) |
| Years | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023 | 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
Key takeaways
- Harry Kane won the Ballon d’Or at age 33 at the 70th ceremony.
- Lionel Messihad won Ballon d’Or six times at 33.
- Cristiano Ronaldo had five Ballon d’Orsby 33 years old.
