Harry Kane becomes first Englishman in 25 years to win Ballon d'Or
LONDON —
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Kane → become → d'Or
Harry Kane became the first Englishman in 25 years to win the Ballon d'Or on Monday thanks to his prolific scoring last season.
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Kane → become → scoring
Kane scored 73 goals for club and country last campaign — he was Europe's top scorer — and smashed scoring records in Germany for Bayern Munich and at the World Cup, where he captained England to a third-place finish.
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he → score → finish
The 33-year-old Kane says winning the prestigious individual award was built on so much more.
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winning → say → more
"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," an emotional Kane said in a message to young players, after reflecting on his early career struggles.
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Kane → watch → struggles
I wasn't the kid who went straight to the top.
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who → go → top
I had to experience the downs," he added.
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he → have → downs
"I had to fight my way to be the very best right now.
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I → have → way
I hope that can give you inspiration as well."
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that → hope → inspiration
Kane was followed in the voting by Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal — voted best young talent for a third straight year — 2024 winner Rodri and record eight-time winner Lionel Messi.
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Kane → follow → year
Kane thanked his teammates, coaches, parents, children — "It's past your bedtime" — and wife Kate, " my best friend.
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It → thank → bedtime
You always want the best for me."
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You → want → me
Kane led Bayern to the Bundesliga and German Cup double, scoring a hat trick against Stuttgart in the cup final.
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Kane → lead → final
Bayern also reached the Champions League semifinals.
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Bayern → reach → semifinals
At the World Cup, he scored six times to pass Gary Lineker as England's all-time leading World Cup scorer and placed himself among the all-time top five in tournament history.
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he → score → history
His lineup lost to Argentina in the semifinals but beat Mbappé's France for third place, England's best World Cup placing in 60 years.
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lineup → lose → years
An Englishman hadn't won the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001.
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Englishman → win → 2001
(The ceremony) being here in London was a good omen for me," Kane said.
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Kane → say → me
To put us back on the map, to put us here with this trophy I'm extremely proud.
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I → put → trophy
Playing for England is my biggest honor, the thing I love to do the most."
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I → play → England
England coach Thomas Tuchel told Kane the Three Lions are "lucky to have you as our leader."
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Lions → tell → 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 recognized by the football world," Tuchel said.
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Tuchel → run → world
Fans packed the streets and climbed light poles near the London Palladium, where the event was held, for a glimpse of the arriving athletes.
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event → pack → athletes
Kane stopped to sign autographs on his way in.
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Kane → stop → way
They stayed through the ceremony and chanted Kane's name as he left the theater near Oxford Circus after midnight.
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he → stay → midnight
Kane planned to celebrate with family and friends, but just a little.
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Kane → plan → family
"We have a cup game on Wednesday so it can't get too messy," Kane said, noting he has an early Tuesday flight back to Munich in time for team training.
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he → have → training
Monday's ceremony was held in London for the first time in recognition of the inaugural winner 70 years ago, England's Stanley Matthews in 1956.
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ceremony → hold → 1956
Earlier, Spain star Alexia Putellas won her record-equaling third women's Ballon d'Or after leading her former club Barcelona to multiple trophies last season including the Women's Champions League.
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Putellas → win → League
Putellas, who joined London City Lionesses in the offseason, also helped Spain win the Women's Nations League last December.
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Spain → join → League
The 32-year-old midfielder ended Spain teammate Aitana Bonmati's three-year reign.
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midfielder → end → reign
Putellas won the prestigious award in 2021 and 2022, tore her ACL and saw Bonmati rise to stardom.
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Bonmati → win → stardom
Bonmati, who completed her women's Ballon d'Or three-peat in 2025, was not on this year's shortlist after breaking her leg in December.
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who → complete → December
There wasn't a women's Ballon d'Or until 2018, when Ada Hegerberg won it.
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Hegerberg → be → it
Putellas urged young players to approach the sport with "love and passion.
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"Believe in yourself, that's the most important thing," she said.
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she → believe → yourself
"If you have a dream, go for it, even if at some point you have to start from zero."
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you → have → zero
Putellas had joined Barcelona in 2012 and called her time at the Catalan club "something special.
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Putellas → join → club
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"I'm really grateful for having 14 seasons as a player (at Barcelona)," she said.
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she → have → Barcelona
"What I experienced last year was like a perfect story."
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experienced → experience → story
The Aporia
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