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News: Harry Kane was crowned the Ballon d’Or Award 2026 winner, while Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the women’s award.
About the Ballon d’Or Award 2026
- Ballon d’Or Award 2026 has been won by Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich and England striker.
- Harry Kane is the first Englishman to win the prestigious award in 25 years, after Michael Owen won it in 2001.
- Alexia Putellas from Spain won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time.
- About the Ballon d’Or Award:
- It is the highest individual honour in football. It honors the best football players worldwide based on their performances during the previous season.
- Conferred by: It has been presented annually by France Football.
- Instituted year: It was first awarded in 1956 and was initially restricted to European players.
- In 1995, eligibility expanded to include all players active in European clubs.
- By 2007, it became a global award open to all professional footballers worldwide.
- Selected by: The winner of the Ballon d’Or is chosen by an international panel of journalists.
- Basis of selection: It is given on the basis of:
- Individual performances, decisive and impressive character.
- Team performances and achievements.
- Process of selection: Each country in the top 100 of the FIFA rankings is represented by one journalist on the voting panel.
- Jurors rank their top ten players, and points are assigned according to these rankings to determine the final winner.
- New categories: New categories have been introduced this year 2025, including- Women’s Yashin Trophy, the Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy, and the Women’s Kopa Trophy, to celebrate the achievements of female players.
- Notable Winners: Lionel Messi holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or titles, having won eight times.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award five times.
