Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or. England's 25-year drought is over. The last English player to take it was Michael Owen in 2001. Kane picked up the award at a ceremony in London and became the world's best player on the game's biggest individual stage.
The Bayern Munich striker bucked a trend that favored continental Europeans and South Americans. Kane's consistency, goal-scoring record, and leadership made him impossible to ignore when voters cast ballots. He beat out the usual suspects who typically dominate the voting.
This caps a career arc that saw Kane establish himself as one of the elite strikers in world football. He spent most of his prime at Tottenham before the move to Munich last year. That decision to leave the Premier League was questioned at times. The Ballon d'Or silences doubters. Kane proved he can compete with and beat the planet's best, regardless of which league he plays in.
The award matters more than just hardware. It signals respect from the global football community. For England, it matters too. Kane carries the flag for English players on the sport's grandest stage, ending a generation-long wait.