Strikers Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or at a ceremony held in London, becoming the first English player to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001. At 33 years old, the Bayern Munich player surpassed France's Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid, who finished second, and Spain's Lamine Yamal of Barcelona, who placed third in the voting. The forward is the fifth English athlete to receive the honor in history. Last season, Kane scored 61 goals in 51 matches for the German club, setting an all-time record for the Munich team. Including goals scored for the England national team, his total reached 73 goals and eight assists in 65 games. His performance included being the top scorer in the Bundesliga with 36 goals, in addition to 14 goals in the Champions League and 10 in the German Cup. With this achievement, Kane ends a drought for Bayern that had lasted since 1981, when Karl-Heinz Rummenigge won the award. The victory came despite the player not having won the Champions League or the World Cup in the latest campaign, having claimed the German Cup and the Bundesliga with his club. To celebrate the award for the England national team captain, the arches of Wembley Stadium were illuminated in gold.
Sports
Harry Kane wins Ballon d'Or and caps record-breaking Bayern season
The English striker beat competitors such as Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal after scoring 73 goals in the season, breaking Bayern Munich's record despite not lifting major European trophies.
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