Kane claims Ballon d'Or in one of its tightest contests
Kane scored 1,055 points versus Mbappe's 1,027, the narrowest winning margin in seven years.
Harry Kane has won the men's Ballon d'Or, beating Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe by just 28 points in one of the award's closest finishes. Kane's 1,055 points topped Mbappe's 1,027, the tightest margin since Lionel Messi beat Virgil van Dijk by seven points in 2019.
Kane is the first Englishman to win since Michael Owen in 2001. Spain forward Lamine Yamal finished third with 881 points.
Only twice before has the Ballon d'Or been decided by a single point: Bobby Charlton beat Eusebio in 1966, and Matthias Sammer edged Ronaldo in 1996. Kane claimed the prize after scoring 73 goals in 65 matches for Bayern Munich last season.
Why it mattersThe razor-thin margin shows how closely matched elite football's top performers are, making Kane's win all the more significant.
AustraliaNo direct Australian impact, though Australian football fans following Kane and the European leagues will watch this rivalry closely.
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