Prince William Arthur Philip Louis has led the tributes to Harry Kane after the England captain was crowned the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or winner in London on Monday night, describing the Bayern Munich striker as an outstanding leader and performer.

Kane claimed football’s most prestigious individual award at the 70th edition of the ceremony, held at the London Palladium, beating Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, who finished second, and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, who placed third.

The Prince of Wales congratulated Kane on his achievement, praising his influence on the pitch and the memorable moments he has delivered to supporters around the world.

“Huge congratulations to Harry Kane on winning the Ballon d’Or! What a fantastic achievement and so deserved. A brilliant captain, a remarkable player and someone who has given football fans across the world so many unforgettable moments.”
Prince William, Prince of Wales

Prince William, the eldest son of King Charles III and heir to the British throne, has maintained a prominent connection with sport, particularly football. He has served as president of the Football Association (FA) since 2006 and regularly supports England’s national teams, making his tribute to the Three Lions captain a notable endorsement of Kane’s achievement.

The royal praise followed a remarkable campaign for Kane, whose prolific scoring for Bayern Munich and England helped him emerge ahead of an elite field of nominees. The striker scored 73 goals across 65 appearances for club and country during the 2025/26 season, underlining the consistency that propelled him to the top individual honour.

Kane Ends England’s 25-Year Wait

Kane became the first Englishman to win the Men’s Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen claimed the award in 2001. He is the fifth English player to receive the honour, following Stanley Matthews in 1956, Bobby Charlton in 1966 and Kevin Keegan, who won it in 1978 and 1979.

His victory also ended Bayern Munich’s 45-year wait for a Ballon d’Or winner representing the German club.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was the last Bayern player to claim the award, winning it in 1980 and 1981.

Also, Kane is the first non-German player to win the Ballon d’Or while representing Bayern.

Kane Reflects on His Journey

Speaking after collecting the trophy, Kane struggled to contain his emotions as he acknowledged the significance of winning the award on home soil.

“Wow, wow, wow! I am almost speechless. Being here in London has made it extra special.”
Harry Kane, 2026 Ballon d’Or Winner

The England captain also thanked those who voted for him, recognising the quality of the competition among this year’s nominees.

“Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I can imagine it was tough this year. Some world-class players in the room tonight. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees tonight.”
Harry Kane, 2026 Ballon d’Or Winner

Self-Belief Behind Career Success

In a subsequent interview after lifting the Ballon d’Or title, Kane reflected on the challenges that shaped his career, admitting that his rise to the summit of world football had not always appeared inevitable. “Not many people would have thought it, and maybe even I wouldn’t have thought I’d be this far,” he remarked.

Kane explained that early setbacks forced him to develop patience, determination and confidence in his own ability, qualities he believes have helped him continue improving at the highest level. “I had to bide my time and work hard, a lot of times it was me against my own mind and I had to come through it,” he added.

The Ballon d’Or crowns a defining chapter in Kane’s career, rewarding his extraordinary scoring output and his contribution to Bayern Munich and England.

His triumph also restores English representation at the summit of the award after a quarter-century wait, earning recognition from one of the country’s most prominent football supporters.