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England striker Harry Kane, who plays for Bayern Munich, won the 2026 Ballon d’Or on Monday, 26 October, beating France’s Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid and Spain’s Lamine Yamal of Barcelona. The award, presented by France Football magazine, recognises the 33-year-old as the world’s best footballer following a season marked by an outstanding goalscoring performance.
The 70th edition of the ceremony took place in London, United Kingdom, for the first time outside Paris, bringing together some of the biggest names in international football. Kane finished first in the voting, followed by Mbappé in second place and Lamine Yamal in third.
The victory represents a major milestone in the England international’s career, marking his first Ballon d’Or triumph. He also becomes the first English footballer to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001, ending a 25-year wait for an English winner.
The Bayern Munich striker enjoyed an exceptional 2025/2026 season, scoring 73 goals for his club and the England national team across all competitions. His performances contributed to domestic title successes for the German side and helped Bayern reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
In the Bundesliga, Kane finished as the league’s top scorer for the third consecutive season, while also scoring 14 goals in the Champions League, further establishing himself as one of European football’s most prolific strikers.
The England international also delivered a strong performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, helping his national team reach the semi-finals of the tournament.
Despite missing out on the main award, Kylian Mbappé secured second place in the voting, his highest-ever finish in the Ballon d’Or rankings. The French forward was once again among the leading contenders but was ultimately surpassed by Kane’s performances throughout the season.
Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal finished third, confirming his status among the most promising talents in world football. The young Spanish international also received the Best Young Player award, further recognising his development at Barcelona.
In the overall rankings, Spain’s Rodri finished fourth, while Argentina’s Lionel Messi, currently playing for Inter Miami, completed the top five. Georgia’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ranked sixth, followed by France’s Ousmane Dembélé, the previous year’s winner, in seventh place.
Norway’s Erling Haaland finished eighth, ahead of Michael Olise and Fabián Ruiz, who completed the top ten.
In women’s football, Spain’s Alexia Putellas claimed the third Ballon d’Or of her career, following her previous victories in 2021 and 2022. The Spanish international was once again recognised for her performances throughout the season, which included collective success with Barcelona before her move to London City Lionesses.
The ceremony also recognised Vicky López as the Best Young Female Player, while goalkeepers Unai Simón and Cata Coll received the awards in the men's and women's categories, respectively.
Among the coaches, Spain national team manager Luis de la Fuente was named Men’s Coach of the Year, while Barcelona’s Pere Romeu received the corresponding women’s award.
Paris Saint-Germain was named Men’s Club of the Year, while Barcelona received the Women’s Club of the Year award, in a ceremony that once again highlighted the achievements of Europe’s leading football teams.
England international Bukayo Saka, who plays for Arsenal, was also honoured with the Sócrates Award, which recognises footballers involved in social responsibility and charitable initiatives.
The 2026 edition marked the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or, established in 1956 by France Football, with the ceremony organised in partnership with UEFA. London's selection as host city was presented as a tribute to English football and Stanley Matthews, the first recipient of the award.
With this victory, Harry Kane adds football’s most prestigious individual honour to his career achievements, following a season in which his remarkable goalscoring record proved decisive in overcoming competition from Mbappé and Lamine Yamal.
The Mozambican Government has decided to extend until March 2029 the validity of a $2.25 billion sovereign guarantee granted to creditors of the Mozambique LNG project, led by French energy giant TotalEnergies in Area 1 of the Rovuma Basin, Cabo Delgado province. The decision follows a revision of the financial timetable for the project, valued at approximately $20 billion.
Mozambique’s Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) and Ministry of Finance are discussing mechanisms to settle outstanding payments owed to teachers, including overtime compensation, additional teaching shifts, salaries and career progression entitlements. The two institutions are also seeking financial resources to ensure the printing and distribution of school textbooks for the 2027 academic year.
Mozambique and Russia have expressed their intention to strengthen economic and commercial cooperation, with the aim of identifying new investment opportunities and expanding bilateral relations. The commitment was highlighted on Monday, 26 October, during a meeting between Mozambican President Daniel Chapo and Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, in Moscow.
US President Donald Trump raised allegations of fraud in Brazil’s presidential election on Monday, 26 October, following the re-election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for a fourth term. Despite questioning the legitimacy of the electoral process, the American leader provided no evidence of irregularities.
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The Mozambican Government is preparing to open document application centres in South Africa, Portugal and England within the next six months, aiming to improve access to public services for citizens living abroad and reduce the costs associated with travelling back to Mozambique.
Mozambique’s National Energy Fund (FUNAE) plans to complete ten electrification projects by June 2027, as part of efforts to accelerate electricity access across the country, particularly in rural areas. The initiative follows financial constraints that have delayed construction works and the maintenance of energy infrastructure in several regions.
The Angolan Government has proposed a 10% salary increase for public sector employees in 2027, a move that has drawn criticism from trade unions, which consider the proposed adjustment insufficient compared with a 2024 agreement that envisaged a cumulative 100% salary increase over three years.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was re-elected on Sunday, October 25, after defeating Flávio Bolsonaro in the second round of the presidential election, staging an unprecedented comeback in Brazil's democratic history. The victory secures the Workers' Party (PT) leader a fourth presidential term, extending his time in office until 2030.
