Lorraine Williamson
Spanish football enjoyed an extraordinary evening at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Monday (26 October), with Alexia Putellas winning the women’s award for the third time.
The Spanish midfielder was joined on the winners’ list by Lamine Yamal, Vicky López, Unai Simón, Cata Coll and two Spanish coaches, while FC Barcelona was named Women’s Club of the Year.
Alexia Putellas claims her third Ballon d’Or
Putellas added the 2026 award to her previous victories in 2021 and 2022, becoming only the second woman to win the Ballon d’Or three times. She joins fellow Spanish international Aitana Bonmatí, who claimed three consecutive awards between 2023 and 2025.
The award recognised Putellas’s performances during a period associated with both FC Barcelona and London City Lionesses. Her victory meant that Spanish players have now won the women’s Ballon d’Or in each of the past six editions.
The achievement was confirmed in the official Ballon d’Or announcement.
Eight awards underline Spain’s footballing strength
Putellas was far from the only Spanish winner at the ceremony, held at the London Palladium to mark the 70th anniversary of the men’s Ballon d’Or.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal received the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award for the third consecutive year, while his club colleague Vicky López retained the equivalent women’s honour. Their success highlighted the continuing contribution of young Spanish players at the highest level of European football.
Spain also secured both goalkeeper awards. Athletic Club’s Unai Simón was named Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, while Barcelona’s Cata Coll collected the women’s prize.
The coaching awards provided further recognition for Spanish football. National team manager Luis de la Fuente was named Men’s Coach of the Year, and Barcelona’s Pere Romeu received the women’s coaching award.
Barcelona completed Spain’s eight-award tally by being named Women’s Club of the Year, continuing the club’s strong record in the competition.
The full list of winners is available in UEFA’s official 2026 Ballon d’Or results.
Harry Kane wins the men’s Ballon d’Or
The main men’s award went to England captain Harry Kane, who became the first English player to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.
The Bayern Munich striker scored 73 goals for club and country during the 2025–26 season, helping his German club retain the Bundesliga title. He finished ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal in the final voting.
Kane also received the Men’s Striker of the Year award, while Paris Saint-Germain was named Men’s Club of the Year. Mexico’s Charlyn Corral won the women’s striker award, and England’s Bukayo Saka received the Sócrates Award for his charitable work.
Further details of the men’s results are published in UEFA’s Ballon d’Or report.
A remarkable period for Spanish football
The 2026 awards reflect the strength of Spanish football across the women’s and men’s games, from established international players to emerging talent and coaching.
For Barcelona, the evening brought recognition across several generations of players, as well as the club’s wider achievements in women’s football. For Spain, the success of its national team manager and leading players added to a growing collection of international honours.
While Kane took home the men’s headline prize, Spain’s eight awards made the London ceremony another memorable chapter in the country’s footballing history.