Ballon d'Or: Harry Kane's Triumph as an Underdog

On October 26, 2026, during the 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony held at the Palladium in London, Harry Kane of Bayern Munich won the coveted trophy. He secured the award in front of notable players like Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, marking a significant achievement in his career with an impressive 61 goals for Bayern and 12 for the England national team.

Kane, often seen as an anti-star, is praised for his collective spirit, fair play, and perseverance. He mentioned the influence of his coach, Vincent Kompany, who was hospitalized at the time and had played an instrumental role in molding Kane into the leader he is today.

The podium finished with Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, who also received recognition as the best player. Discussions arose around what might have hindered the Spanish champion and World Cup winner from placing higher. Mbappé's recent controversy regarding a video montage of his face over Mao Zedong's image drew significant attention, as it stirred backlash due to the sensitivity surrounding the historical figure in China. Despite no intentions to offend, several sponsors severed ties with Mbappé, prompting apologies from the clubs involved.

Additionally, the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) team was recognized as the best club of the season in London, hinting at a return to form after a shaky start to their Ligue 1 campaign, following a recent win against Olympique Lyonnais. The show featured insights from experts David Lortholary, Hervé Penot, and Ludovic Duchesne, discussing the implications of the Ballon d'Or results and current football narratives.