Harry Kane was announced as football’s 2026 Ballon d’Or winner on Monday evening.
Kane, who plays for German club Bayern Munich, became the first Englishman to capture the prestigious individual award since Michael Owen in 2001.
The former Tottenham Hotspur player recorded 75 goals and eight assists for Bayern Munich in 65 games across all competitions during the 2025-26 season. Kane also led England to a third-place finish at the World Cup, scoring six goals and recording one assist during the international tournament.
Patrick Mouratoglou, the former coach of Serena Williams and current mentor to Stefanos Tsitsipas, has named his ‘Ballon d’Or’ winner for the 2026 tennis season.
Patrick Mouratoglou names Carlos Alcaraz as his 2026 ‘Ballon ‘d’Or’ winner
Alexander Zverev has undoubtedly been the most successful player on the ATP Tour this year. The German has won two Grand Slam titles and is guaranteed to end the year as the world number one for the first time in his career.
However, Patrick Mouratoglou believes another player is more worthy of winning tennis’ ‘Ballon d’Or’ for the 2026 ATP campaign.
Where does Carlos Alcaraz’s forehand rank among the greatest of all time? 🎾
“Zverev won the most Slams this year and will end the season number one in the world, but he’s not my ‘Ballon d’Or’ of tennis,” Mouratoglou, who has also worked with Simona Halep, Holger Rune and Naomi Osaka, said in an Instagram post.
“Zverev, Alcaraz and Sinner, all three played unbelievable this year. Of course, Zverev is the one who won the most.
“But only one player made history in the Grand Slams this year and it is Carlos Alcaraz.
“He won a career Grand Slam and he is the youngest ever to do so. On top of that, he beat Zverev this year the only time they played each other in a Grand Slam.
It was an epic match. Zverev served for the match but Carlos ended up winning.
“My Ballon d’Or of tennis is Carlos Alcaraz,” the Frenchman concluded.
Mouratoglou is referring to Alcaraz’s triumph at the 2026 Australian Open.
The Spaniard defeated Zverev in a five-set semi-final classic, before overcoming the challenge of Novak Djokovic in the final.
In winning the title, Alcaraz – then 22 years old – became the youngest man in history to win all four major titles.
Male players who have completed the ‘Career Grand Slam’ in singles [Open Era]
- Rod Laver
- Andre Agassi
- Roger Federer
- Rafael Nadal
- Novak Djokovic
- Carlos Alcaraz
What is tennis’ Ballon d’Or equivalent?
The closest thing to a Ballon d’Or on the ATP Tour is the year-end world number one award.
The award celebrates the player who finishes top of the rankings at the end of the ATP season.
Alexander Zverev is guaranteed to win the 2026 award.
On the WTA Tour, the Player of the Year award can be compared to the Ballon d’Or.
Aryna Sabalenka won the 2025 award after winning 63 matches across the season.
This year, Elena Rybakina is the favourite to win the award after capturing two Grand Slam titles and achieving the world number one ranking for the first time in her career.
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