Harry Kane has won the men’s Ballon d’Or, beating second-placed Kylian Mbappe by just 28 points, one of the smallest winning margins in the award’s history.
Organisers released the voting numbers on Saturday. England captain Kane received 1,055 points, while Real Madrid’s France forward Mbappe finished on 1,027 points.
Bayern Munich striker Kane became the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001. Mbappe also recorded his best finish, finishing well clear of Spain forward Lamine Yamal, who was third with 881 points.
The margin was the smallest since Argentina great Lionel Messi beat Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk by seven points in 2019. The men’s Ballon d’Or has twice been decided by a single point. England World Cup winner Bobby Charlton, who was later knighted, beat Portugal star Eusebio by that smallest possible margin in 1966. Germany defender Matthias Sammer repeated the one-point victory when he edged out Brazil striker Ronaldo in 1996.
Mbappe may take heart from Ronaldo’s experience with the award. The legendary frontman, who presented Kane with his trophy in London on Monday, went on to win in 1997 and again in 2002.
A record-equalling English haul
Kane is the fifth English player to win the Ballon d’Or, following Stanley Matthews (1956), Bobby Charlton (1966), Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) and Michael Owen (2001).
Kane clinched the prize after scoring 73 goals in 65 matches last season. He helped Bayern Munich to a league and cup double and led England to a third-place finish at the World Cup.
How the vote was decided
The award is decided by votes from 100 journalists, using a weighted points system. The full top nine finished as follows:
- Harry Kane: 1,055 points
- Kylian Mbappe: 1,027 points
- Lamine Yamal: 881 points
- Lionel Messi: 612 points
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: 541 points
- Ousmane Dembele: 418 points
- Erling Haaland: 378 points
- Michael Olise: 296 points
- Fabian Ruiz: 201 points
Mourinho praises Mbappe’s response
Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho said the 27-year-old was dealing brilliantly with the disappointment of missing out. Speaking before Real’s La Liga game against Racing Santander on Sunday, Mourinho said: “Kylian is very intelligent and mature. He has very high self-esteem. And at the same time, he has class.”
“The way he handled the Ballon d’Or for Harry… all I saw and felt was class. And respect,” Mourinho added. “It’s one thing to know you’re the best, and another to have respect for someone who has also worked hard to win a trophy. All I see in him is class.”