Harry Kane has become the first English player to win the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001 after being crowned the world's best player at a ceremony in London. The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker is the fifth Englishman to win in total, with Stanley Matthews (1956), Bobby Charlton (1966) and Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) the others. Denis Law of Scotland (1964) and Northern Ireland's George Best (1968) are the other winners from the United Kingdom.
Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappe finished second, while Barcelona and Spain attacker Lamine Yamal completed the top three. Being here in London has made it extra special," said an emotional Kane. "Thank you to everyone who voted for me.
I can imagine it was tough this year. "[There are] some world-class players in the room tonight. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees tonight. [It is] an impressive showing of determination and what hard work can really achieve." England manager Thomas Tuchel said: "I ran out of superlatives to describe your performances a long time ago, but I'm delighted to see that you have now been formally recognised by the football world.
"To become the first Englishman to win this huge honour in 25 years makes it extra special and we are lucky to have you as our leader. "I know you will enjoy this moment with your loved ones and then get back to doing what you do best – scoring goals and winning football matches." Kane scored 61 goals in 51 club matches last season, the most a Bayern player has ever struck in one campaign. Including England matches, it was 73 goals - plus eight assists - in 65 matches.
Only one player at a club in Europe's top five leagues has ever scored more goals in a season. But he wins it despite not lifting either of football's biggest prizes last season, having lost in both the World Cup and Champions League semi-finals. Remarkably the Three Lions captain becomes the first Bayern player to win the Ballon d'Or since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.
BBC Sport looks at why Kane won it and how unusual it is to do so without securing one of those major trophies. England's greatest international? Kane is now a serious contender Goal, assist... goal-kick - Kane underlines Ballon d'Or credentials Can Kane buck history and win Ballon d'Or?
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