Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, ending the Bundesliga’s 30-year wait for a winner of football’s most prestigious individual award. The Bayern Munich striker enjoyed a remarkable 2025-26 campaign, scoring 73 goals for club and country and establishing himself as one of the world’s best players.
Kane becomes the seventh player to win the Ballon d’Or while representing a Bundesliga club, joining legendary names such as Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The German top flight has produced 10 winning campaigns across seven different players.
Here is the updated list of all Bundesliga Ballon d’Or winners, their clubs and the years in which they claimed the award.
List of All Bundesliga Ballon d’Or Winners
1. Gerd Müller – Bayern Munich (1970)
Gerd Müller became the first Bundesliga player to win the Ballon d’Or in 1970. Nicknamed Der Bomber, the German striker was renowned for his exceptional positioning, clinical finishing and remarkable goalscoring instincts.
Müller scored 38 league goals for Bayern Munich during the 1969-70 campaign, earning the European Golden Shoe. He also scored 10 goals for West Germany at the 1970 FIFA World Cup, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer despite his country finishing third.
His individual brilliance established him as one of the most prolific strikers in football history.
2. Franz Beckenbauer – Bayern Munich (1972, 1976)
Franz Beckenbauer won the Ballon d’Or twice, in 1972 and 1976, becoming one of the most influential defenders in football history.
His first victory followed West Germany’s triumph at the 1972 European Championship, alongside Bayern Munich’s success in domestic football. Four years later, Beckenbauer claimed his second award after Bayern won their third consecutive European Cup.
Known as Der Kaiser, Beckenbauer revolutionised the sweeper role through his composure, passing ability and tactical intelligence. His achievements demonstrated that defenders could compete with the world’s leading attacking players for individual honours.
3. Allan Simonsen – Borussia Mönchengladbach (1977)
Allan Simonsen became the first non-Bayern Munich player representing a Bundesliga club to win the Ballon d’Or.
The Danish forward claimed the award in 1977 after helping Borussia Mönchengladbach win the Bundesliga title and reach the European Cup final. Although the German side lost 3-1 to Liverpool, Simonsen scored during the final and impressed throughout the campaign.
Simonsen remains Denmark’s only Ballon d’Or winner, securing his place among the most celebrated players in the country's football history.
4. Kevin Keegan – Hamburg (1978, 1979)
Kevin Keegan won consecutive Ballon d’Or awards in 1978 and 1979 after joining Hamburg from Liverpool.
The English forward quickly established himself in German football, combining relentless work rate, attacking movement and goalscoring ability. His performances earned him the award in each of his first two seasons with Hamburg.
Keegan’s second victory coincided with Hamburg winning the Bundesliga title in 1978-79, ending a 19-year wait for the championship. He remains the only English footballer to have won the Ballon d’Or twice.
5. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – Bayern Munich (1980, 1981)
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge continued the Bundesliga’s dominance of the Ballon d’Or by winning the award in 1980 and 1981.
The Bayern Munich forward was recognised for his exceptional attacking performances, pace and clinical finishing. His first victory followed an outstanding season with Bayern and West Germany’s success at the 1980 European Championship.
Rummenigge retained the award in 1981 after finishing as the Bundesliga’s leading goalscorer and delivering impressive performances in European competition. His consecutive victories confirmed his status as one of the finest forwards of his generation.
6. Matthias Sammer – Borussia Dortmund (1996)
Matthias Sammer became the last Bundesliga player to win the Ballon d’Or before Harry Kane, claiming the award in 1996.
The Borussia Dortmund defender played a crucial role in the club’s Bundesliga success and Germany’s triumph at Euro 1996. Operating as a sweeper, Sammer combined defensive organisation with intelligent distribution and the ability to influence matches across the pitch.
His performances for club and country earned him the Ballon d’Or, making him the second defender after Beckenbauer to win the award.
7. Harry Kane – Bayern Munich (2026)
Harry Kane ended the Bundesliga’s three-decade wait for a Ballon d’Or winner by claiming the award in 2026.
The England captain scored 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England during the 2025-26 campaign. His outstanding performances included 36 Bundesliga goals and 14 goals in the UEFA Champions League, helping Bayern secure domestic silverware and reach the Champions League semi-finals.
Kane also scored six goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as England finished third. His remarkable consistency, finishing ability and leadership made him a deserving winner of football’s most prestigious individual prize.
The award marks a major milestone in Kane’s career and strengthens his legacy as one of the greatest strikers of his generation.
Conclusion
The Bundesliga’s Ballon d’Or history features seven outstanding players who shaped different eras of football, from Gerd Müller’s goalscoring brilliance to Beckenbauer’s defensive excellence and Rummenigge’s attacking dominance.
Harry Kane’s 2026 Ballon d’Or win adds a historic new chapter to that legacy. By becoming the first Bundesliga-based winner since Matthias Sammer in 1996, the Bayern Munich striker has ended a 30-year drought and reinforced the German league’s reputation as a stage for world-class footballing talent.
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