Edi Umoh
Harry Kane became England’s first Ballon d’Or winner in 25 years in his native London on Monday, beating stiff competition from Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe.
This year’s award was keenly contested, with Kane winning it ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal.
Alexia Putellas claimed the women’s prize for a third time, extending Spain’s dominance of the award, thanks to her role in leading Barcelona to last season’s Champions League before moving to London City Lionesses.
The first-ever Ballon d’Or ceremony on English soil got off to an inauspicious start as the London traffic caused a delay of nearly an hour, with many of the star names arriving late.
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The 33-year-old Bayern Munich forward struck a remarkable 73 goals in 65 games for club and country last season, propelling the German giants to a league and cup double.
He also scored six times as England finished third at the World Cup.
“Without you guys (his Bayern Munich teammates) and the rest of the team it wouldn’t be possible; the way you guys push me, the way we compete. So thank you very much,” he said after collecting the award.
Kane’s medal collection is limited to German domestic triumphs since he arrived at Bayern in 2023.
He was on the losing side for Tottenham in the 2019 Champions League final against Liverpool and twice tasted bitter defeat in the final of the European Championship with England.
But his remarkable goalscoring consistency has earned him the highest individual award in football.
“Making the move to Bayern Munich was a big step in my career,” Kane told AFP earlier.
“Some people saw it as a risk, but for me it was always about improving and seeing if I could get better around the teammates, the team, the club, and it has pushed me onto another level.
“Being a number nine for Bayern and England, you are expected to score goals and to do that the number of times I did last year is something I’m really proud of,” he added.
Putellas crowned
Winner in 2021 and 2022, Putellas’s third Ballon d’Or caps her return to the top of the women’s game after an anterior cruciate ligament injury derailed her rise four years ago.
Putellas succeeds Spain teammate Aitana Bonmatí, the winner the past three years, who was sidelined by a leg break for most of last season.
“Ever since I suffered the injury, I’ve been trying to enjoy every moment as if it were my last, because you never know if it’ll happen again,” Putellas told AFP in an interview last month.
“I never felt that the (Ballon d’Or) trophy was ‘mine’… Having already experienced it once, I’m able to enjoy it even more now,” she added.
Yamal made the boldest fashion statement of the contenders with a pink flower on the front of his black suit.
The Barcelona winger scooped up the first award of the night for young talent of the year for the third consecutive time.
But the 19-year-old fell short of becoming the youngest ever Ballon d’Or winner after he failed to produce his best form during Spain’s World Cup success.
Mbappe got the better of Yamal with two goals as Real Madrid edged Barcelona 2-1 in El Clasico on Sunday.
But his wait to win the Ballon d’Or goes on despite his prolific year for France and Real Madrid.
Luis de la Fuente beat out Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to be named men’s coach of the year after leading Spain to World Cup glory.
“I’m really privileged to work with a team of such high quality on a professional and human level,” said de la Fuente.
Barcelona’s Pere Romeu scooped the prize for women’s coach of the year.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka won the Socrates award for his humanitarian work.
Paris Saint-Germain missed out on any of the main individual awards despite winning a second consecutive Champions League, but did have the consolation of men’s club of the year.
Spanish duo Unai Simón and Cata Coll were named best men’s and women’s goalkeeper.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Men’s Ballon d’Or winner – Harry Kane
Women’s Ballon d’Or winner – Alexia Putellas
Men’s striker of the year – Harry Kane
Women’s striker of the year – Charlyn Corral
Men’s club of the year – Paris Saint-Germain
Women’s club of the year – Barcelona
Socrates Award winner – Bukayo Saka
Men’s goalkeeper of the year – Unai Simón
Women’s goalkeeper of the year – Cata Coll
Men’s coach of the year – Luis de la Fuente
Women’s coach of the year – Pere Romeu
Women’s young talent of the year winner – Vicky López
Men’s young talent of the year winner – Lamine Yamal
AFP
