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Ballon d’Or: Quick Facts

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News •

Harry Kane, men’s Ballon d’Or winner, not included in FIFPro’s 2026 World XI - The Athletic • Nov. 9, 2026, 12:38 PM ET (New York Times)
Harry Kane extends deal at Bayern Munich until 2029 a week after winning Ballon d'Or • Nov. 5, 2026, 8:41 AM ET (AP)
Kane scoreless as Bayern draws in Klassiker and AC Milan beats city rival Inter • Oct. 31, 2026, 6:09 PM ET (AP)
Kane becomes first Englishman in 25 years to win Ballon d'Or and Putellas wins her third • Oct. 26, 2026, 10:04 PM ET (AP)
Ballon d'Or 'winners' published by mistake hours before men's award • Oct. 26, 2026, 5:15 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As Golden Ball
Notable Honorees Lionel Messi • Cristiano Ronaldo • Harry Kane • Ronaldinho • Ronaldo Nazário • Luka Modrić: Conductor of the Midfield • Megan Rapinoe • Kaká • Ousmane Dembélé • Rodri • Zinedine Zidane • Carli Lloyd • Franz Beckenbauer • Roberto Baggio • Johan Cruyff • Michel Platini • Rivaldo • Fabio Cannavaro • Stanley Matthews

Photos

Lionel Messi, wearing a dark suit and tie, smiles while holding the Ballon d'Or trophy in front of a backdrop with red and white logos.
Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing a black suit and tie, smiles while holding the Ballon d'Or trophy in front of a backdrop with France Football logos.
Alexia Putellas and Harry Kane stand onstage holding Ballon d'Or trophies, Putellas in a white gown and Kane in a black tuxedo.
Ousmane Dembele smiles and holds up the Men's Ballon d'Or trophy while wearing a black suit at the 69th Ballon d'Or Ceremony in Paris.
Luka Modric holds the 2018 Ballon d'Or trophy, smiling as his mother Radojka kisses his cheek and his father Stipe stands beside them.
Ronaldo, wearing a Real Madrid jersey, smiles while holding the Golden Ball and FIFA Best Player trophies on the field, with blurred players in blue uniforms behind him.
French footballing legend Zinedine Zidane
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