Harry Kane wins Ballon d'Or at London ceremony

Harry Kane accepted the Ballon d'Or at the London Palladium on Monday, becoming the first English player to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001. The ceremony marked the first time the event was held in London, a choice made to honor Stanley Matthews, the inaugural recipient in 1956.

Kane earned the honor after scoring 73 goals for club and country in the previous campaign. His performance made him Europe's top scorer. He set scoring records in Germany with Bayern Munich and added to his tally during the World Cup, where he captained England to a third-place finish.

The striker led Bayern Munich to a double, winning the Bundesliga and the German Cup. He scored a hat trick against Stuttgart in the cup final. Bayern also reached the Champions League semifinals. At the World Cup, Kane scored six goals, surpassing Gary Lineker to become England's all-time leading World Cup scorer.

England's tournament run ended in the semifinals with a loss to Argentina. The team then defeated France for third place, securing its best World Cup result in 60 years. Kane credited his teammates, coaches, and family for the achievement. He specifically thanked his wife, Kate, calling her his best friend and biggest supporter.

Kane reflected on his career path, noting that it was not straightforward. He told young players that resilience and determination helped him overcome early struggles. "My journey wasn't straightforward. I wasn't the kid who went straight to the top. I had to experience the downs," he said.

Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Lionel Messi finished behind Kane in the voting. Lamine Yamal was named the best young talent for the third consecutive year. England coach Thomas Tuchel praised Kane, saying the team is lucky to have him as its leader.

Fans gathered outside the theater near Oxford Circus to watch the athletes arrive. Kane stopped to sign autographs before entering the venue. After the ceremony, which ended near midnight, Kane planned to return to Munich by Tuesday for team training ahead of a cup game on Wednesday.