A World Cup for Spain, a Ballon d’Or for Harry Kane, and a season that shattered records: the world’s biggest leagues and players rewriting football’s script.
The 2026 football year will be remembered for its lasting impact on the sport. On July 19, Spain defeated Argentina 1–0 in extra time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, claiming their second World Cup with Ferran Torres scoring the winner in the 106th minute. Three months later, Harry Kane stood on the London Palladium stage and received the Ballon d’Or, the first Englishman to do so in 25 years. Between those nights, the world’s top leagues produced a season of records, comebacks, and new stars. This article examines who is winning, where the money is, and the players shaping the sport.
We start with the clubs. Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the second year in a row, beating Arsenal on penalties in the final, and claimed their 14th Ligue 1 title. Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga, their 35th league title, and broke their own record by scoring 122 goals in a single season. Barcelona retained the La Liga crown with a 2–0 win over Real Madrid in May, finishing 11 points clear. Inter Milan took the Serie A title for the 21st time. Arsenal ended a 22-year wait and were crowned Premier League champions, a long-awaited success for a club that also reached the Champions League final. Each champion has a distinct style, but they share strong squads, clear plans, and patient coaching.
How do the leagues compare? The Premier League still boasts the greatest depth. Nine English clubs appear in the 2026 Deloitte Football Money League top 20, more than any other country, and Liverpool are the highest-earning English side. Spain has the greatest brands, with Real Madrid leading the world with revenue of €1.161 billion, above €1 billion for a second year in a row, and Barcelona following with about €975 million.
Germany offers goals and a strong youth system, and Bayern remain the third-richest club in the world. France has one dominant giant in PSG, who now sit fourth on the money list. Italy is rebuilding, with Inter back on top and several Italian clubs returning to the Champions League. One interesting point from Deloitte is that, for the first time, no English club sits in the top four of the money table. Experts say that this might change next year, once the Premier League’s new broadcast deal, which runs to 2029, is fully counted. The top clubs earned a record €12.4 billion.
Now to the players, starting with the man of the moment. Harry Kane scored 73 goals for club and his country in the 2025–26 season, helped Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga, and won both the Ballon d’Or and the Gerd Müller Trophy for the best striker. Off the pitch, he is a devoted family man. He met his wife, Kate Goodland, at school and they married in 2019. They have four children. In his acceptance speech Kane thanked Kate first, with her sitting in the hall, and said the award belonged to his family, his England teammates, and Tottenham, the club where his story began. At 33, he’s become a role model for late bloomers everywhere.
Kylian Mbappé finished second in the Ballon d’Or, a summer few players matched. He won the World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals, becoming the all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals. His family life is equally fascinating. His father Wilfrid, is a football coach and his mother, Fayza Lamari, is a former handball player who now works as his agent. Mbappé also founded the Inspired by KM association, which supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with education and guidance.
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