Harry Kane won the men’s Ballon d’Or by just 28 points from Kylian Mbappe, one of the smallest winning margins in the award’s history.
Organisers released the voting numbers on Saturday. England captain Kane received 1,055 points, while Real Madrid’s France forward Mbappe finished on 1,027. Spain forward Lamine Yamal was third with 881 points.
Bayern Munich striker Kane became the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001. Mbappe also recorded his best finish, finishing well clear of Yamal.
A historically tight contest
The margin was the smallest since Argentina great 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.
The first occurred in 1966, when 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 in 1996, edging out Brazil striker Ronaldo.
Mbappe may take heart from Ronaldo’s own 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.
Kane’s record season
Kane is the fifth English player to win the Ballon d’Or, following Stanley Matthews (1956), Bobby Charlton (1966), Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) and Michael Owen (2001).
He clinched the prize after scoring 73 goals in 65 matches last season. He helped Bayern Munich to 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 top nine finished as follows:
- 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 dealing brilliantly with the disappointment. Speaking before Real’s La Liga game against Racing Santander on Sunday, he said: “Kylian is very intelligent and mature. He has very high self-esteem. And at the same time, he has class.”
“The way he handled the Ballon d’Or for Harry… all I saw and felt was class. And respect,” Mourinho added. “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.”