Spain owned the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Monday night. Spanish players, coaches and clubs won eight of the 13 awards on offer.
Alexia Putellas, Lamine Yamal and Unai Simón all went home with silverware. Yet one prize got away. England captain Harry Kane won the men’s Ballon d’Or. His win ended England’s 25-year wait for the top individual prize.
Eight Out of 13 for Spain
Few nations have ever had a night like this. Spain won awards in almost every category, from goalkeeping to coaching. Their winners came from the men’s and women’s game in equal measure. Teenagers stood next to seasoned stars on the list. Club favourites shared the spotlight with national team heroes.
Here is how Spain’s haul looked:
- Women’s Ballon d’Or: Alexia Putellas
- Men’s Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal
- Women’s Kopa Trophy: Vicky López
- Men’s Yashin Trophy: Unai Simón
- Women’s Yashin Trophy: Cata Coll
- Men’s Coach of the Year: Luis de la Fuente
- Women’s Coach of the Year: Pere Romeu
- Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona Femení
That is a success rate of more than 60%. Barcelona sat at the centre of it all. Five of Spain’s eight awards went to Barça players, staff or teams. The Catalan club keeps producing elite talent, and Monday’s results proved it.
Putellas Returns to the Top
Alexia Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time. She first lifted it in 2021 and kept it in 2022. Four years later, she is back on top. The midfielder earned the award after a brilliant final season with Barcelona. She helped the club win the UEFA Women’s Champions League. She then joined London City Lionesses before the 2026-27 campaign.
Her win keeps the trophy firmly in Spanish hands. Aitana Bonmatí won the previous three editions, from 2023 to 2025. That means Spanish players have now won six Women’s Ballon d’Or titles in a row. Putellas has three, and so does Bonmatí. It is a remarkable spell of control at the very top of the women’s game.
Yamal and López Keep Their Crowns
Spain’s next generation also had a big night. Lamine Yamal won the men’s Kopa Trophy for the third straight year. The award goes to the best player aged 21 or under. Yamal is the first player to win it three times. The Barcelona forward also finished third in the main men’s vote. He is still only 19.
Vicky López matched that consistency in the women’s category. The Barcelona youngster won the women’s Kopa Trophy for the second year running. Like Yamal, she is already a key figure for club and country.
Spain’s Best Goalkeepers Rewarded
Spain’s dominance stretched all the way to the back. Unai Simón won the men’s Yashin Trophy for his displays with Spain. The Athletic Bilbao keeper has long been his country’s first choice.
Cata Coll took the women’s goalkeeping prize. She starred for both Barcelona Femení and the Spanish national team. She was also a key figure in Barça’s four-trophy season.
Coaches and Clubs Join the Party
The coaching awards followed the same pattern. Luis de la Fuente won the Johan Cruyff Trophy for best men’s coach. It rewarded his work with Spain during a demanding World Cup year.
Pere Romeu collected the women’s coaching award. His Barcelona Femení side won a quadruple in 2025-26. They lifted four trophies:
- Liga F
- Copa de la Reina
- Spanish Super Cup
- UEFA Women’s Champions League
Barcelona Femení also won Women’s Club of the Year. It was a fitting reward for a side that won every major prize. Paris Saint-Germain took the men’s club award, so Spain did not sweep the lot.
Kane Breaks England’s 25-Year Wait
Harry Kane was the big exception to Spain’s night. The Bayern Munich striker won the men’s Ballon d’Or. He is the first Englishman to win it since Michael Owen in 2001.
His numbers made a strong case. Kane scored 73 goals for club and country in 2025-26. That is more than one goal for every week of the year. Bayern kept their Bundesliga title and won a domestic treble.
Kylian Mbappé finished second in the vote. Yamal came third, keeping a Spanish face on the podium. Kane also won the Gerd Müller Trophy as the season’s top scorer. England had more to celebrate, too. Bukayo Saka received the Sócrates Award for his social and charity work.
What the Night Says About Spanish Soccer
Monday’s results showed the depth of Spanish soccer. The success did not rest on one star or one team. It came from young players, keepers, coaches and both national sides.
Spain’s women’s game keeps producing world-class talent. Their men’s side now has a strong mix of youth and experience. Barcelona’s development work deserves much of the credit.
For rivals, the message is clear. Spain are not just winning now. They have the young players to keep winning for years. Yamal is 19 and López is 20. Both already have more than one major award to their names.
Kane may have taken the biggest prize. But Spain owned the night.
