Harry Kane won the men’s Ballon d’Or by just 28 points over Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, one of the smallest winning margins in the award’s history. Organisers released the voting figures on Saturday, showing Kane with 1,055 points and Mbappe with 1,027.
Bayern Munich striker Kane became the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001. He is the fifth English player to win it, after Stanley Matthews (1956), Bobby Charlton (1966), Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) and Owen (2001). Mbappe, the France talisman, also recorded his best finish, well clear of Spain forward Lamine Yamal, who placed third with 881 points.
The margin is the smallest since Lionel Messi beat Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk by seven points in 2019. The men’s Ballon d’Or has twice been decided by a single point. In 1966, England World Cup winner Bobby Charlton, who was later knighted, beat Portugal star Eusebio by the smallest possible margin. Germany defender Matthias Sammer repeated the one-point victory when he edged out Brazil striker Ronaldo in 1996.
Mbappe can take encouragement from Ronaldo’s experience with the award. The legendary frontman, who presented Kane with his trophy in London on Monday, went on to win it in 1997 and again in 2002.
A season of goals
Kane clinched the prize after scoring 73 goals in 65 matches last season. He helped Bayern Munich win a league and cup double and led England to a third-place finish at the World Cup.
The award is decided by votes from 100 journalists, using a weighted points system. The full results were:
- Harry Kane – 1,055 points
- Kylian Mbappe – 1,027 points
- Lamine Yamal – 881 points
- Lionel Messi – 612 points
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – 541 points
- Ousmane Dembele – 418 points
- Erling Haaland – 378 points
- Michael Olise – 296 points
- Fabian Ruiz – 201 points
Mourinho praises Mbappe
Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho said the 27-year-old Mbappe was handling the disappointment brilliantly. Speaking before Real’s La Liga game against Racing Santander on Sunday, Mourinho said: “Kylian is very intelligent and mature. He has very high self-esteem. And at the same time, he has class.”
Mourinho added: “The way he handled the Ballon d’Or for Harry… all I saw and felt was class. And respect. It’s one thing to know you’re the best, and another to have respect for someone who has also worked hard to win a trophy. All I see in him is class.”