The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place on Monday, October 26, in London, with three England players among the 30 nominees: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Declan Rice. Kane is considered a frontrunner for the award.
Fans may wonder who was the last English player to win the Ballon d'Or. In total, four Englishmen have been named the world's best player.
Michael Owen's 2001 Triumph
The last English winner was Michael Owen in 2001. At age 22, the Liverpool striker received 176 points, beating Real Madrid legend Raul, who earned 140 points. Owen helped Liverpool win a treble in the 2000/01 season, including the FA Cup, UEFA Cup, and League Cup.
Owen scored 24 goals that season, including two in 10 minutes during the FA Cup final. His pace drew praise, and he was viewed as one of the most exciting players in the world.
Close Calls and Earlier Winners
Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard came close in 2005, finishing second and third in voting. They were the only players besides winner Ronaldinho to receive over 100 points, with 148 and 142 respectively. Ronaldinho's total was 225 points.
Sir Stanley Matthews won the first Ballon d'Or in 1956, and Sir Bobby Charlton won after England's 1966 World Cup victory. Kevin Keegan remains the only Englishman to win twice, in 1978 and 1979, before Owen's 2001 win.
