Michael Owen

Harry Kane crowned the Ballon d'Or winner, the first English player to do so since 2001.

And Michael Owen, the 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker, the fifth Englishman to win in total.

Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen.

And so he should.

61 goals in 51 club matches this last season.

But for the record, Harry Kane is the fifth Englishman to win the Ballon d'Or.

first was Stanley Matthew second and then Sir Bobby Charlton Kevin Keegan won it twice Michael Owen won it do you

know how English are funny they remind us of all the people that won it he was the first Englishman since Michael Owen let's move on when this guy won it Dembele the last winner did they tell us how many French people won it

people probably won it a lot more but what I love about Hurricane is by far the oldest of the trio and uh lami yamal his city is so high he's won the last three young players of the dembélé i mean sorry mbappé hasn't won it has it no okay this is his highest investment you'll get there

um uncle can't be a good stand-up comedian he can't even crack a funny joke uncle said killing mbappe won't be top five according to his source but our source needs to be probed kudos to harry kane well deserved award i'm happy for him unless you come in from through leary Good morning, SportsZone.

Harry Kane, of course, is the first English player to win the trophy for 25 years.

Michael Owen did it back in 2001. the Bayern Munich England and former Tottenham striker, looked quite surprised and emotional as he collected the prize at the ceremony.

He scored 73 goals for club and country last season.

His 61 goals in 51 club games was the most a Bayern player has scored in a campaign.

Late great.

Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen.

Those are the four previous English recipients of the Ballon d'Or.

And, of course, Harry Kane's name is added to that.

Bobby Charlton, best for his generation.

Kevin Keegan, best for his generation.

Michael Owen and Harry Kane, best for their generation.

But which was the best? Yeah, let's speak to Julie now, who is in Sheffield.

Moving to sport, Harry Kane and Alexia Putalis have won the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

Kane, who plays for Bayern Munich, is the first Englishman to win the men's award since Michael Owen 25 years ago.

Koutelis, who plays for London City, collects her third women's prize.

Paris Saint-Germain were named best men's team.

I think you put a new piece at 10.51pm was eventually when the winner was announced.

But England do have their first winner of the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001.

They're just their sixth winner in the awards 70 year history.

What are your initial reactions and do you think they came to the right decision?

He went over some points that, I mean, look, he's been, he's answered every question under the sun about his career, hasn't he, over the years.

So, But he talked about his sacrifice over the years and perhaps not spending the time he would have wanted with his kids and his wife in order to just get better or recover or whatever it might be.

He talked about England and that long wait and the honour of following on from Michael Owen and obviously a lot of great players, Rooney and Lampard and Gerrard, who haven't managed to do it and Kane did.

So yeah, it was a nice moment just to get a chance.

It could be a way here.

Michael Owen, he's got Scholes with him, but it's still Owen.

Oh, what a goal! This 18-year-old has electrified

Welcome to today's podcast where we are joined by our best guest today, Mr. Michael Owen.

Thank you for joining us.

It's very kind of you to say so.

Was that the moment, because obviously you were playing for Liverpool, you were doing really well, but was that the moment where things just went up to another level in terms of fame and getting hassled in the street and everything else?

Yeah, absolutely.

fighting either of them.

My final gripe with the whole thing was they had Michael Owen presenting it and they did a big... thing beforehand about his career and then when harry kane won i was like oh this was actually just a mini build-up they'd obviously already asked ronaldo to host the men's one so they're like we can't really get michael owen now so we'll just we'll scooch him into the women's award do a big thing about his career and then hand out the award so again i have another

great i have another great the team the the was it the barcelona president yeah coming up and talking about the men's team when it was the women's team that won Not surprising, but given everything that Spanish football has gone through with men speaking incorrectly and taking praise where it was not due, I just felt like, what a tone deaf person.

Especially when Audrey tried to correct him as well and he just kept going talking about the men's team that won the Champions League.

She joined Spain teammate Aitana Bonmati on three Ballon d'Or feminine crowns.

Harry Kane became the first English player to win the men's award since Michael Owen back in 2001.

33-year-old Bayern Munich striker is the fifth Englishman to win the award.

For any young boy or girl wanting to achieve their dreams, anything is possible.