Kane finished ahead of French forward Kylian Mbappé and Spanish youngster Lamine Yamal in the voting.
The award also marked a milestone for German football, with Kane becoming the first Bundesliga player to win the men's Ballon d'Or since Matthias Sammer in 1996.
Harry Kane wins Ballon d'Or. Photo: Harry Kane Facebook
Bayern Munich celebrates Kane's historic win
Kane became the first Bayern Munich player to receive the prestigious honour since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who won it in 1980 and 1981, the club said in a statement.
Among the prominent Bayern officials present at the gala in London were president Herbert Hainer, CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, sporting director Christoph Freund and women's football director Bianca Rech.
Record-breaking season for Kane
Kane enjoyed a remarkable 2025–26 campaign, scoring 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich and finishing the season with 73 goals for club and country.
His prolific performances helped Bayern secure a Bundesliga and German Cup double, further strengthening his standing among the world's leading forwards.
The England captain has continued to deliver consistently in his thirties, with a disciplined approach to training and recovery playing an important role in maintaining his performance levels.
Harry Kane in FIFA World Cup 2026. Photo: Harry Kane Facebook
Kane reveals fitness secret in his thirties
In a recent interview with Men's Fitness, Kane discussed how his training regime has evolved with age, explaining that recovery and understanding his body's limits have become increasingly important.
"Even though I’m in my 30s, I still, to be honest, feel as good as I’ve ever felt in my whole career," Kane said.
He explained that his approach to additional training after matches and practice sessions now depends on his recovery and physical condition.
"Maybe you’re not smashing 50 balls after training every day; maybe you’re doing 10, 15, and then some days you’re doing more, depending on recovery, some days less, etc.," he said.
Kane added that during a demanding season, when players can have matches every three or four days, recovery becomes more important than constantly pushing their physical limits.
"It's more about recovery and making sure that you're available for the next game and the next game," he said.
Harry Kane playing for Bayern Munich. Photo: Harry Kane Facebook
Understanding the body is key, says Kane
Kane said he has learned to balance his desire to train harder with the physical demands of professional football.
"I'm someone who always wants to train and always wants to push, but of course there becomes a physical element of what's possible and what's not," he said.
"I think it's the biggest thing that I've taken, especially in the last five, six years," he added, referring to the importance of recognising when to push himself and when to prioritise recovery.