England striker wins award 70 years on from Sir Stanley Matthews claiming the inaugural prize

Harry Kane became the latest English player to follow in Sir Stanley Matthews’ legendary footsteps after being announced as this year’s Ballon d’Or winner.

Seventy years after Matthews won the inaugural award, Kane’s haul of 73 goals last season for Bayern Munich and England gave him this year’s prize, ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.

He became the first Englishman to take home the prize since Michael Owen did so in 2001.

Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) and Sir Bobby Charlton (1966) were also successful, though it was Matthews who started it all off.

He won the 1956 prize, ahead of Real Madrid duo Alfredo di Stefano and Raymond Kopa, following votes cast by football journalists: a process which remained in place until 2006.

Aged 41 years and 321 days when he was named as the winner, Matthews remains the oldest player to have won it.

While Kane collected his award at the London Palladium on Monday - this year’s host venue rather than Paris, in a nod to the anniversary of Matthews’ victory - the Blackpool legend accepted his award at Blackpool Town Hall.

Paying tribute to Matthews, the organisers said: “The change of location has substantial meaning behind it, not least because the inaugural recipient of the golden ball was Sir Stanley Matthews, a player who embodied the very best traits of Englishness in his every action.

“The legendary Blackpool and Stoke winger was a true ambassador of football, dedicating a lifelong devotion to his craft, a commitment to enthral and to fair play.”

Matthews’ family were in attendance as Kane also won the Gerd Muller Trophy for his goalscoring exploits last season.

Blackpool have also announced that their home match against Burton Albion in December will celebrate Matthews’ life and achievements.

The game on December 19 is the closest to the 70th anniversary of his Ballon d’Or success.

Announcing the news, a Seasiders statement said the fixture ‘will see the club celebrate the legacy of one of our greatest-ever players with a series of pre-match events and tributes planned to make the day one to remember, 70 years on from Matthews’ crowning moment.’