Sports
Fenerbahçe-Kartal 4.0 ends in misery after Galatasaray derby defeat
Fenerbahçe have parted ways with head coach Ismail Kartal by mutual agreement, ending his fourth spell in charge less than 24 hours after a 2-1 defeat to archrivals Galatasaray widened the gap in the Süper Lig title race.
The Turkish club announced the separation on Oct. 27, 2026, after Kartal informed the management of his decision to leave. Talks between the coach and club officials at the Samandıra Can Bartu Facilities ended with both parties agreeing to part ways.
“Our head coach Ismail Kartal has shared his decision to leave his post with our management, and following the talks held, this decision has been evaluated within the framework of mutual understanding and respect,” Fenerbahçe said in a statement.
The club thanked Kartal for his commitment and service and wished him success in the next stage of his career. The departure was also reported to Türkiye’s Public Disclosure Platform.
The decision followed Monday’s defeat at RAMS Park, where Victor Osimhen scored twice for Galatasaray before İrfan Can Kahveci pulled one back with a spectacular overhead kick in the second half. The result left Galatasaray top of the standings with 22 points from nine matches, six ahead of Fenerbahçe, who dropped to fifth on 16 points.
It was Fenerbahçe’s third league defeat of the season and their second derby loss under Kartal, adding to the pressure on a team that had entered the campaign aiming to challenge for domestic and European honors.
The derby also ended in controversy, with post-match altercations resulting in red cards for players from both sides, including Fenerbahçe’s Archie Brown. The disciplinary fallout added another complication for a club already facing scrutiny over its results.
A second resignation in less than two months
Kartal’s departure followed an earlier resignation attempt in September, when he announced he was stepping down after a 1-1 Champions League draw with Roma on Sept. 10. The coach said at the time that he wanted to clear the way for the club to move forward. He had also been struck by a bottle thrown from the stands during the match.
Club president Aziz Yıldırım rejected that resignation, and Kartal remained in the job after discussions with the management. This time, the club accepted his decision to leave.
Kartal, 65, had returned for his fourth spell on June 18, signing a one-year contract. His latest tenure lasted just over four months, with mixed results across domestic and European competitions.
He oversaw 18 official matches, recording nine wins, five draws and four defeats. Fenerbahçe scored 34 goals and conceded 20 during that run.
One of the defining achievements of his spell was helping the club return to the Champions League group stage for the first time since the 2008-09 season. However, inconsistent performances and costly defeats, including a 6-0 loss to Aston Villa in the competition, undermined that progress. The defeats to Galatasaray and Beşiktaş further intensified pressure on the coach.
A long association with Fenerbahçe
Kartal’s departure marks another chapter in a long relationship with the Istanbul club. He played for Fenerbahçe from 1983 to 1993 before moving into coaching and taking charge of the team during four separate periods: 2014-15, a brief spell in 2022, the 2023-24 season and his latest appointment in 2026.
Although he has guided the club through several competitive league campaigns and secured a Turkish Super Cup, he has never won the Süper Lig title as head coach.
His latest return offered another opportunity to end that drought, but the growing gap behind Galatasaray and the team’s uneven European performances left the club facing difficult questions early in the season.
Kuyt tipped for interim role
Former Fenerbahçe and Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt, who joined the coaching staff in the summer, was reported to be the leading candidate to take interim charge following Kartal’s departure.
Kuyt was expected to oversee preparations for Fenerbahçe’s upcoming home league match against Göztepe on Oct. 31 and the club’s next Champions League fixture against Liverpool.
Fenerbahçe had yet to announce a permanent replacement, leaving the club to address its immediate coaching needs while attempting to recover ground in the domestic title race and maintain its European campaign.
Barcelona have been fined 602 euros ($672) by the Spanish Football Federation after Atletico Madrid complained that the Catalan club contacted Julian Alvarez without first notifying his employers in writing, adding a minor disciplinary penalty to a summer transfer dispute that strained relations between the La Liga rivals.
The sanction, imposed under Article 133 of the federation’s disciplinary regulations, follows Atletico’s allegation that Barcelona approached the Argentina international while he remained under contract with the Madrid club. Alvarez’s deal runs until June 2030.
Atletico also filed a complaint with FIFA, but the governing body ruled that it had no jurisdiction over the matter, leaving the Spanish federation to handle the case.
The fine is small compared with the financial stakes of a potential transfer, but the dispute reflects the tensions surrounding Barcelona’s interest in one of Atletico’s most important players.
The Spanish federation’s disciplinary committee found that contact had taken place before Barcelona formally notified Atletico of its interest. However, it treated the breach as a minor offence rather than a more serious infringement warranting a heavier penalty.
Barcelona are expected to appeal the decision, arguing that the issue is one of principle rather than money. The club disputes the implication that it acted improperly and does not want payment of the fine to be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing.
While the legal dispute continues, Alvarez has been working to repair his relationship with Atletico’s supporters after comments expressing his desire to play for Barcelona angered sections of the home crowd.
The 26-year-old scored the only goal in Atletico’s 1-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, earning a standing ovation from some supporters at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano after weeks of being booed.
“It was a mistake. I understand why the fans are angry. If I were a fan, I’d be angry too. Especially given how they’ve supported me since I arrived,” Alvarez said after the match.
He was referring to an interview during the 2026 World Cup in which he said he wanted to fulfil his dream of playing for Barcelona. The remarks fuelled speculation over his future and contributed to a transfer dispute that persisted throughout the summer window.
His goal against Deportivo followed another scoring performance in the Champions League against Stuttgart, offering a timely response to the criticism and a possible first step toward restoring the relationship with Atletico’s supporters.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone welcomed the striker’s apology and stressed his importance to the team’s ambitions.
The victory left Atletico second in La Liga with 25 points from 10 matches, two points behind Barcelona, adding further significance to the dispute between two clubs competing near the top of the table.
France captain Kylian Mbappe apologized to China on Tuesday after comments about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong sparked a backlash that prompted companies to sever commercial ties with the Real Madrid forward and Chinese state television to suspend broadcasts of Spanish league matches.
The controversy highlights the risks global sports stars face in China, a lucrative market where political sensitivities can quickly turn a seemingly casual remark into a commercial crisis.
In a video from a French podcast that was later taken down, Mbappe discussed a meme featuring his face superimposed on that of a man he described as a Chinese dictator. He was referring to Mao, who founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and ruled until his death in 1976.
“During a recent interview, I reacted to an image of myself,” Mbappe said in a statement. “My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world.”
“I apologize to everyone my words have upset,” he added, stressing that causing offense had not been his intention.
The apology followed mounting criticism on Chinese social media and reports that several companies had ended their partnerships with the footballer. State-backed media also reported that China Central Television had halted broadcasts of matches and events involving Mbappe and Spain’s La Liga, the country’s top football division.
The fallout placed Mbappe’s commercial relationships under scrutiny and prompted football officials and corporate partners to respond.
Brands cut ties as backlash spreads
Chinese companies Mengniu, Shanghai Milkground Food Tech and Eastroc Beverage announced that they were ending their cooperation with Mbappe, effective immediately.
The companies said they had “zero tolerance for any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.”
The Paper, a state-backed Chinese media outlet, reported Tuesday that CCTV had suspended broadcasts of all matches and events involving La Liga and Mbappe. Advertisements featuring the forward had also been removed, according to the report.
Terrence Burns, a sports sponsorship expert and CEO of the T. Burns Sports Group, said the episode underscored the importance of understanding the markets in which athletes operate.
“Mbappe’s team knew, or should have known, what the true cost of Chinese brand endorsements was all about,” Burns said.
Swiss sportswear company On Holding, which signed Mbappe in September after his two-decade association with Nike, welcomed the apology and said it had “deep respect” for China.
Hotel group Accor did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Denmark’s Lego also declined to comment, although a building set featuring Mbappe remained listed on the company’s Chinese website Tuesday.
The dispute has revived questions about the vulnerability of international sports sponsorships to political and cultural controversies in China, where consumer boycotts and online campaigns have previously damaged major foreign brands.
Fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, Swiss watchmaker Swatch and the U.S. National Basketball Association have all faced backlash in China over separate controversies. Some eventually recovered their standing, while others experienced prolonged damage to their commercial relationships.
Chinese media demand accountability
Chinese state media condemned Mbappe’s remarks and questioned whether his apology would be enough to repair the damage.
China Daily said the comments had angered Chinese fans, threatened the footballer’s lucrative commercial relationships and demonstrated the limits of celebrity influence.
The state-backed Global Times took a similarly critical position, arguing that foreign celebrities could not expect to profit from the Chinese market while offending Chinese consumers.
On Weibo, China’s popular social media platform, one user rejected the apology outright, writing, “Not accepted. Not forgiven!!”
As of 0700 GMT Tuesday, four topics related to Mbappe remained among Weibo’s 10 most popular searches. Some users called for the forward to be blacklisted in China and for his commercial value to be reduced to zero. Their comments received hundreds of likes.
CCTV, however, adopted a more measured tone, saying it would consider Mbappe’s apology while paying closer attention to his subsequent actions.
“We hope La Liga, Real Madrid, and Mbappe himself will genuinely learn a lesson from this, offer a sincere apology, and thoroughly correct their mistakes,” the broadcaster said.
A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry also addressed the controversy, saying remarks and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people would naturally prompt opposition across Chinese society.
On Wednesday, ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing took Mbappe’s apology seriously but offered no further assessment.
“We take seriously the apology that the person has made,” Guo said.
La Liga and Real Madrid respond
La Liga president Javier Tebas apologized on behalf of the Spanish competition on Tuesday, saying the organization deeply regretted the remarks attributed to Mbappe and the offense they had caused in China.
Tebas said he had met with China’s ambassador to Spain to discuss the controversy and explore ways to resolve it.
“Our commitment is to keep working together so that an individual episode does not harm the important advances achieved nor affect the millions of Chinese fans who follow our competitions,” Tebas said in a statement posted on social media.
“China is and will continue to be a strategic partner for La Liga.”
He added that the league was working directly with its Chinese partners to address the situation, arguing that a relationship built over many years should not be damaged by a single incident.
Real Madrid also apologized to China on Wednesday, a day after the controversy erupted.
“Real Madrid C.F. wishes to express its apologies to the Chinese people for any offense caused by the recent remarks of our player Kylian Mbappe,” the club said in a statement.
The club had previously declined to comment on the issue.
A joke that crossed a political line
The controversy also reflects Mbappe’s complicated relationship with the online memes portraying him as a powerful, sometimes authoritarian figure within his teams.
Fans have circulated images placing his face on political and military leaders, suggesting that he wields outsized influence over decisions at the clubs he represents. The forward has been nicknamed “the dictator” in the European press.
Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at Annex Wealth Management, said Mbappe appeared to have underestimated the political sensitivity surrounding the joke.
“In attempting to laugh at himself and his reputation of being a dictator in the locker room, he apparently crossed a red line he didn’t know was there,” Jacobsen said.
In an interview with French sports newspaper L’Equipe last month, Mbappe acknowledged that some of the memes were harmless fun but criticized images depicting him as a dictator, saying they demonstrated “a lack of political and human awareness.”
Mao remains a deeply sensitive figure in China despite the political and economic changes the country has undergone since his death. His role in establishing modern China remains central to the country’s official historical narrative, making public ridicule of him a particularly delicate subject.
Galatasaray’s 2-1 victory over Fenerbahçe in the Süper Lig derby was overshadowed by a postgame brawl that left both teams facing potential disciplinary sanctions, with four players sent off or booked after the final whistle.
The 407th meeting between two of Turkish football’s biggest rivals took place Sunday at RAMS Park, where Galatasaray secured the win in the teams’ ninth league match of the season.
However, the scenes after the final whistle and the flurry of cards once again highlighted the tension surrounding one of football’s most heated rivalries.
According to the referee’s report published on the Turkish Football Federation’s information system, referee Atilla Karaoğlan issued six yellow cards during regulation time.
Galatasaray’s Davinson Sanchez and Rafael Leao were booked, along with Fenerbahçe’s İrfan Can Kahveci, Milan Skriniar, Nelson Semedo and N’Golo Kante.
The situation deteriorated after the final whistle when an altercation broke out between Fenerbahçe’s Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Galatasaray’s Roland Sallai. Other players joined the confrontation, escalating it into a brawl.
Aktürkoğlu and Sallai received yellow cards, while Galatasaray defender Abdülkerim Bardakcı and Fenerbahçe defender Archie Brown were shown red cards for physically confronting each other.
The incident has shifted attention to the Turkish Football Federation’s disciplinary process, with both clubs potentially facing further punishment.
18 red cards in the last 20 derbies
The latest confrontation adds to a growing disciplinary record in the rivalry. Referees have issued 18 red cards and 150 yellow cards across the last 20 meetings between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, comprising 18 Süper Lig games, one Turkish Cup match and one Turkish Super Cup encounter.
Fenerbahçe players accounted for 12 of those red cards, compared with six for Galatasaray.
Galatasaray players sent off during that period include Younes Belhanda, who received two red cards, Badou Ndiaye, Barış Alper Yılmaz, Kerem Demirbay and Bardakcı.
Fenerbahçe’s list includes Roberto Soldado, Jailson, Hasan Ali Kaldırım, Deniz Türüç, Marcel Tisserand, Irfan Can Kahveci, Luan Peres, Alexander Djiku, Fred, Mert Hakan Yandaş, Ederson and Brown.
Lengthy suspensions?
The Turkish Football Federation’s Legal Consultancy will review the referee’s and match observer’s reports before referring players and officials to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board.
Bardakcı and Brown face particular scrutiny following their red cards. The length of any suspension will depend on the disciplinary charge brought against them.
Under Article 36 of the Football Disciplinary Regulations, which covers unsporting conduct, players could face suspensions of one to three matches. A charge under Article 45, covering fighting, could result in bans of three to five matches.
The penalties could be more severe if the players are charged under Article 44, which covers assault and carries suspensions of five to 10 matches.
Broadcast footage and match observer reports could also lead to disciplinary proceedings against additional players or members of either team’s coaching staff.
Previous derbies have carried a heavy financial cost
The disciplinary consequences of the rivalry extend beyond individual suspensions. Across the last 15 derbies, four coaches and 19 players have received match bans, while both clubs have accumulated substantial financial penalties.
Decisions issued by the Professional Football Disciplinary Board and upheld by the Arbitration Board resulted in fines of 8.13 million Turkish lira ($192,000) for Galatasaray and 13.359 million lira ($315,000) for Fenerbahçe, according to the figures provided. Fenerbahçe also received seven matches behind closed doors, compared with three for Galatasaray.
Coaches and players have frequently borne the brunt of the sanctions.
At Fenerbahçe, former manager Jose Mourinho received a five-match suspension, while Ersun Yanal was banned for one match. Coaches Salvatore Foti and Sandro Zufic each received four-match suspensions.
Among Fenerbahçe players, Volkan Demirel, Mert Hakan Yandaş and Jailson each received eight-match bans. Soldado was suspended for six matches, while Raul Meireles received a four-match ban. Ederson, Fred and Irfan Can Eğribayat each received three-match suspensions.
Jayden Oosterwolde, Irfan Can Kahveci and Bruno Alves were each banned for two matches, while Türüç received a one-match suspension.
Galatasaray also faced significant sanctions. Former manager Fatih Terim received a 15-match suspension, while current manager Okan Buruk was banned for one match. Assistant coach Hasan Şaş received a nine-match suspension, and Serhat Doğan was suspended for one match.
Among Galatasaray players, Engin Baytar received an 11-match ban, Ryan Donk was suspended for six matches and Ndiaye for five. Sabri Sarıoğlu received a four-match suspension, while Garry Rodrigues was banned for three matches. Barış Alper Yılmaz and Kerem Demirbay each received one-match suspensions.
Lamine Yamal may have missed out on the Ballon d’Or, but the Barcelona forward made history Monday by winning the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award for a third consecutive year, becoming the first player to achieve the feat.
The 19-year-old received the honor at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium, collecting the trophy from Ukrainian football great Andriy Shevchenko.
The award, formerly known as the Kopa Trophy, recognizes the world’s best male player aged 21 or younger and is voted on by former Ballon d’Or winners.
Yamal first won the award in 2024, aged 17, before retaining it in 2025. His latest victory puts him in a class of his own, having become the first player to win the honor three times in succession.
Previous recipients include Kylian Mbappe in 2018, Matthijs de Ligt in 2019, Pedri in 2021, Gavi in 2022 and Jude Bellingham in 2023. None had managed to defend the title before Yamal broke new ground with his consecutive victories.
Barcelona’s success in the award also reflects the club’s ability to develop young talent. Pedri and Gavi previously won the prize, bringing Barcelona’s total to five victories.
Despite the personal recognition, Yamal used his acceptance remarks to praise teammate Pau Cubarsi, who finished second in the voting.
“I would have liked Cubarsi to have won; he deserves it. He has been performing at an incredible level for a long time,” Yamal said.
The defender’s strong performances for Barcelona and Spain had made him a leading contender for the honor.
Yamal’s latest award came on a night when he also finished third in the senior Ballon d’Or standings, behind winner Harry Kane and runner-up Mbappe.
Another standout season
Yamal’s record-breaking achievement followed another impressive campaign in 2025-26, during which he played a central role in Barcelona’s domestic success and Spain’s triumph on the international stage.
For Barcelona, he helped secure a second consecutive La Liga title and the Spanish Super Cup. His performances also earned him the La Liga Player of the Season award.
In the league, Yamal scored 16 goals and provided 11 assists, the most in the competition. He also scored six goals in the Champions League as Barcelona reached the quarterfinals.
His overall contribution across competitions included approximately 24 to 25 goals and 18 to 20 assists, depending on the statistical source and competition cutoffs.
Yamal’s season was not without setbacks. A hamstring injury in April raised concerns about his availability for the World Cup, but he recovered in time to join Spain’s 26-man squad.
Spain went on to win the tournament, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final to claim its second men’s World Cup title. Yamal scored in a 4-0 group-stage victory over Saudi Arabia and won a penalty in Spain’s 2-0 semifinal win over France.
The World Cup victory added another major achievement to a growing collection of honors for the young forward, whose influence has extended well beyond his age group.
A new benchmark for young players
The Young Talent of the Year award, introduced in 2018 as the Kopa Trophy, honors the legacy of French football great Raymond Kopa. Its winners are selected by former Ballon d’Or recipients, distinguishing it from the main award, which is decided by journalists.
Yamal’s three consecutive victories have established a new standard in the award’s relatively short history. His first win recognized his exceptional emergence at Barcelona, while his second confirmed his consistency at the highest level. The third underlines his continued development into one of football’s leading players.
His success also highlights Barcelona’s La Masia academy, which has produced several of the club’s most influential young players. The achievements of Pedri, Gavi and Yamal have reinforced the academy’s reputation as a source of elite talent.
More than 650 sailors representing over 65 teams will compete on the Istanbul Bosporus on Oct. 29 as the Presidential International Yacht Races celebrate the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic.
The Republic Cup, the fourth and final leg of the seventh edition of the series, will begin in front of Dolmabahçe Palace, bringing a fleet of sailboats adorned with Turkish flags to one of the city’s most recognizable waterways.
The race will combine competition with Republic Day celebrations, as crews test their strategy, teamwork and endurance against the wind and currents of the Bosporus. Spectators will be able to watch from the waterfront as the boats sail through the strait.
Held under the auspices of the Turkish Presidency, the races are organized by the Istanbul Offshore Yacht Racing Club, with contributions from the Culture and Tourism Ministry and the Youth and Sports Ministry, in cooperation with the Istanbul Governor’s Office and the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA).
Connecting young people
Speaking at a news conference at Fişekhane in Istanbul, Istanbul Offshore Yacht Racing Club President Ekrem Yemlihaoğlu emphasized the importance of introducing children and young people to sailing.
He said the sport helps develop confidence, cooperation and respect for nature, qualities that can benefit young people beyond the competition.
“We believe the self-confidence, solidarity and respect for nature gained at sea will benefit these young people in every area of life and help them move forward,” Yemlihaoğlu said. “As their connection with the sea grows stronger, so will their responsibility to protect it.”
He also highlighted the economic opportunities offered by yacht tourism, arguing that Türkiye has the infrastructure and natural resources to expand its share of the international market.
Citing studies on yacht tourism in the European Union, Yemlihaoğlu said the sector generates an annual economic volume of 78 billion euros ($81 billion), largely across Greece, Italy and Spain, and supports 234,000 jobs.
“These figures point to significant economic benefits and considerable potential for job creation,” he said.
Yemlihaoğlu added that Türkiye already has marinas, accommodation facilities and other services needed by yacht owners and visitors, giving the country a strong foundation for growth.
Through the Presidential International Yacht Races, organizers aim to help turn that potential into economic activity while raising Türkiye’s profile as a sailing and tourism destination.
History and heritage
Yemlihaoğlu said the event also offers an opportunity to promote Türkiye internationally by connecting the country’s maritime landscape with its history.
He pointed to the historical landmarks visible along the Bosporus and the broader legacy of the Turkish War of Independence, including the battles of Gallipoli, the national movement launched in Samsun and the struggle along the Aegean coast.
He said the historical backdrop to the races sends a message about Türkiye’s heritage and national identity to international audiences.
Yemlihaoğlu thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Turkish Sailing Federation President Özlem Akdurak, local officials, sponsors and participating athletes for their support.
He also acknowledged Fişekhane, which hosted the news conference, and sponsor Jacques Philippe.
Neon Sailing Cup
Organizers also announced plans for the Neon Sailing Cup, a nighttime sailing event scheduled for Aug. 28, 2027, on the Istanbul Bosporus as part of Sail Türkiye. Yemlihaoğlu described it as a world first.
Melisa Kavsak, the event’s founder and coordinator, said the competition would combine sailing with technology and visual effects to create an experience that spectators could follow from the shoreline as well as through social media.
Kavsak said the initiative aims to make sailing more accessible to wider audiences while strengthening Istanbul’s international profile and supporting sports tourism.
“Our goal is not simply to organize a race, but to increase the visibility of sailing and bring the sport to a broader audience,” she said.
She added that the event would seek to combine Istanbul’s historical and cultural identity with a contemporary sporting spectacle, using the Bosporus as a distinctive setting.
Kavsak said the city’s historical heritage and waterfront could help make the Neon Sailing Cup a unique sporting and urban experience for international visitors.
Season title to be decided at Republic Cup
The Oct. 29 race will also determine the final standings in the Presidential International Yacht Races series.
Teams will compete for the Republic Cup while seeking to finish the season at the top of the overall standings.
The championship will be decided by cumulative points earned across all legs, with the team recording the highest total crowned season champion.
The winners will receive their trophies at an awards ceremony scheduled for Nov. 1 at Fişekhane.
Harry Kane became the first Englishman in 25 years to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday, capping a remarkable season in which the Bayern Munich striker combined prolific goalscoring with domestic success and leadership for club and country.
The 33-year-old received football’s most prestigious individual award at the 70th ceremony, held at London’s Palladium Theatre on Monday. He is the fifth Englishman to win the men’s prize, joining Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen, who was the last English recipient in 2001.
Kane’s victory rewards an outstanding 2025-26 campaign in which he scored 73 goals in 65 appearances across all competitions for Bayern and England. His tally also earned him the Gerd Müller Trophy, awarded to the season’s leading goalscorer, while his performances helped Bayern secure the Bundesliga title and German Cup.
The England captain scored 61 goals for Bayern, including a Bundesliga-leading 36 in 31 league appearances. He added 14 goals in the Champions League, 10 in the German Cup and one in the German Supercup. His remaining 12 goals came for England, including six during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Kane also won the European Golden Shoe as the continent’s leading league goalscorer, further strengthening his case for the Ballon d’Or. His ability to finish chances, create opportunities for teammates and deliver in decisive moments made him the centerpiece of Bayern’s attack throughout the season.
Since joining Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur in 2023, Kane has established himself as one of the German club’s most productive forwards. His goalscoring record has reinforced a reputation built over years in the Premier League, where he won multiple Golden Boots before moving to Germany.
His latest achievement adds another distinction to a career that includes England’s all-time scoring record and years of consistent performances at the highest level. Although Kane has often been celebrated for his professionalism, intelligent movement and link-up play rather than showmanship, his extraordinary output has now earned him the sport’s most coveted individual honor.
The Ballon d’Or race featured several high-profile contenders, including Spain’s Lamine Yamal, France’s Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, Norway’s Erling Haaland and Spain’s Rodri. Yamal also won the Kopa Trophy as the best young player.
A website error before the ceremony added intrigue after separate articles prematurely listed Kane, Yamal and Mbappé as winners. The official announcement ultimately confirmed Kane as the recipient.
Earlier in the evening, Kane accepted the Gerd Müller Trophy and credited his teammates and family for helping him reach the highest point of his career.
“An incredible year for me … the best season I have had without a doubt,” he said. “To score this amount of goals is a total team effort.”
He also thanked his wife, Kate, for her support.
“I have a great team around me who keep me humble and keep me grounded,” Kane said. “My wife Kate, we’re in this together. I know this wouldn’t be possible without you.”
Kane’s win places him alongside a select group of English football greats who have claimed the award. Matthews won the inaugural Ballon d’Or in 1956, Charlton followed in 1966, Keegan won back-to-back awards in 1978 and 1979, and Owen claimed the honor in 2001.
The ceremony also recognized Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas, who won her third women’s Ballon d’Or after helping Barcelona collect several trophies last season, including the Women’s Champions League. Putellas, 32, joined London City Lionesses during the offseason and also helped Spain win the Women’s Nations League in December.
Her victory ended Aitana Bonmati’s three-year reign. Bonmati, who completed a hat trick of consecutive awards in 2025, was absent from this year’s shortlist after breaking her leg in December.
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