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Harry Kane, Bayern Munich's English striker, won the 2026 Ballon d'Or on Monday in London, finishing ahead of Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid by 41 points. Kane claimed his first individual award of this magnitude after a standout season with the German club and contributions to England's third-place finish at the 2026 World Cup.
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Harry Kane, Bayern Munich — Kane secured the 2026 Ballon d'Or for the first time in his career, clinching the award after winning the European Golden Shoe and helping Bayern secure the German league title during the 2025-2026 season. The 33-year-old became the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001, receiving the award from Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario at a ceremony held in London.Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid — Mbappe finished as runner-up in the 2026 Ballon d'Or voting, finishing 41 points behind Kane despite leading both La Liga and Champions League scoring charts and captaining France at the World Cup. The result marks his highest finish in the award's history, yet he remains without a Ballon d'Or title.Lamin Yamal, Barcelona — The Spanish winger placed third in the 2026 Ballon d'Or standings, building on a strong season with Barcelona where the club claimed four titles including La Liga, the Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, and the Women's Champions League. Yamal also contributed to Spain's strong World Cup campaign.Luis de la Fuente, Spain national team — De la Fuente received the Johan Cruyff Trophy as best men's coach after leading Spain to the 2026 World Cup title, adding to his earlier successes with the UEFA Nations League and Euro 2024 championships. Six Spanish players appeared on the Ballon d'Or shortlist of 30 candidates, highlighting the depth of his squad.ISKF Lebanon, Shoto Cup — Lebanon's ISKF team competed at the 5th ISKF World Shoto Cup in Merida, Mexico, with a 20-member delegation including 12 competitors and two officials. The Lebanese squad secured 16 medals total: three gold, seven silver, and six bronze across individual and team kata and kumite events.Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia, AFC Champions League Elite — Al-Ittihad defeated Neftchi Fergana of Uzbekistan 2-1 away in the third round of the AFC Champions League Elite group stage on Monday. Hossam Awad equalized in the 34th minute before Youssef En-Nesyri secured victory in the second half, moving Al-Ittihad into contention in the competition.What to Watch:
Real Madrid faces Barcelona in La Liga this week; the Clasico remains a key fixture in both sides' title pursuit. Rafael Nadal is scheduled to return to competitive tennis in February 2027 for an exhibition match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, marking his comeback to hard courts more than two years after retirement.