Spain claims eight Ballon d’Or honours as Putellas wins third crown and Kane takes men’s prize

Harry Kane claimed the men’s Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Englishman to receive it since Michael Owen in 2001. But Spain’s strength across both the men’s and women’s game shaped much of the evening’s celebration at the London Palladium. 

Putellas returns to the top

Putellas’s victory brought her level with Spain teammate Aitana Bonmatí on a record three women’s Ballons d’Or and extended an uninterrupted sequence of Spanish winners to six years. Putellas won in 2021 and 2022 before Bonmatí claimed the next three editions.

The 32-year-old midfielder received her latest award for a season in which she helped Barcelona win four trophies, including the Women’s Champions League, before leaving in the summer for London City Lionesses. She also contributed to Spain’s Women’s Nations League triumph last December.

Her return to the top followed the serious knee injury that interrupted her career after her first two Ballon d’Or victories. Bonmatí, meanwhile, was absent from this year’s shortlist after breaking her leg in December.

Putellas paid tribute to the club where she spent 14 seasons, describing her Barcelona years as ‘something special’.

‘I’m really grateful for having 14 seasons as a player (at Barcelona),’ she said. ‘What I experienced last year was like a perfect story.’

She also encouraged aspiring players to retain their ‘love and passion’ for football.

‘Believe in yourself, that’s the most important thing,’ she said. ‘If you have a dream, go for it, even if at some point you have to start from zero.’

Barcelona and Spain share the honours

Barcelona’s success extended well beyond their former captain’s award.

Vicky López received the women’s young-player prize, while Cata Coll won the women’s goalkeeping award. Pere Romeu was named Women’s Coach of the Year after guiding Barcelona Femení through a campaign featuring 45 victories in 48 matches, 193 goals and four trophies. The team also collected the Women’s Club of the Year award.

In the men’s categories, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente received the coaching honour, and Athletic Club’s Unai Simón took the goalkeeping prize.

Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best young male player for a third consecutive year. The 19-year-old Barcelona forward nevertheless missed out on the senior award, finishing third behind Kane and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé. Yamal suggested that his Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsí would have been a deserving recipient of the youth honour.

Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, finished fourth in the men’s voting, ahead of eight-time winner Lionel Messi in fifth. 

Kane ends England’s 25-year wait

Kane’s first Ballon d’Or rewarded a season of 73 goals for club and country, combining domestic success with Bayern Munich and England’s best World Cup finish since 1966.

The 33-year-old helped Bayern win the Bundesliga and German Cup, scoring a hat-trick against Stuttgart in the cup final. The German club also reached the Champions League semi-finals.

For England, Kane scored six times at the World Cup, overtaking Gary Lineker as the country’s leading scorer in the competition and moving into its all-time top five. England lost to Argentina in the semi-finals before beating France in the third-place match.

His award ended a quarter-century without an English winner and made him the fifth English player to receive the honour, following Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen. 

In an emotional acceptance speech, Kane emphasised the setbacks and persistence behind his achievements.

‘Anything is possible with hard work, when no one else is watching, to go through the ups and downs, to learn through resilience, determination and self-belief,’ he said.

‘My journey wasn’t straightforward. I wasn’t the kid who went straight to the top. I had to experience the downs,’ he added. ‘I had to fight my way to be the very best right now. I hope that can give you inspiration as well.’

Kane thanked his teammates, coaches and family, telling his children, ‘It’s past your bedtime’. He described his wife Kate as ‘my best friend’, adding: ‘We’ve been through ups and downs for sure. You’re my biggest supporter. You always want the best for me.’

He also reflected on the significance of receiving the award in London.

‘It’s massive for England, for our country. (The ceremony) being here in London was a good omen for me,’ he said. ‘It’s been too long. Certainly (there have been) incredible English players … To put us back on the map, to put us here with this trophy I’m extremely proud. Playing for England is my biggest honour, the thing I love to do the most.’

England coach Thomas Tuchel praised his captain, telling him the national team were ‘lucky to have you as our leader’.

‘I ran out of superlatives to describe your performances a long time ago, but I’m delighted to see that you have now been formally recognised by the football world,’ Tuchel said.

A landmark London ceremony

Supporters crowded the streets around the Palladium, some climbing lamp posts to see the arriving players. Kane signed autographs before entering, and fans remained outside until after midnight, chanting his name as he left.

The England captain planned a modest celebration with family and friends before an early Tuesday flight to Munich for training.

‘We have a cup game on Wednesday so it can’t get too messy,’ he said.

London hosted the ceremony for the first time to mark 70 years since Matthews became the inaugural Ballon d’Or winner in 1956.

Kane also received the men’s scoring award. The remaining honours went to Paris Saint-Germain as Men’s Club of the Year, Mexico and Pachuca forward Charlyn Corral as Women’s Striker of the Year, and England’s Bukayo Saka, who received the Sócrates Award recognising humanitarian and social commitment.