CLOSE CALL: Ballon d'Or scores published as Harry Kane's slender winning margin over Kylian Mbappe becomes clear with Lamine Yamal not in the race

Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or by just 28 points with his narrow margin of victory over Kylian Mbappe being published.

The Bayern Munich ace won the individual accolade for the first time in his career on Monday and also ended a 25-year wait for a English winner as he scooped the gong in his hometown, London.

Heading into the ceremony there was talk of a unique three-way battle for the award as Kane, Mbappe and Lamine Yamal all had genuine cases to claim the Ballon d'Or. Kane would win ahead of the Frenchman, but the contest was particularly close. Kane amassed 1,055 points with Mbappe just behind on 1,027.

For all the talk of a three-way battle, Yamal was a distant third with 881 points. The World Cup winner's exploits were not enough to see him claim the award.

It is worth noting that the journalists who represented Spain and Germany both handed their vote to Mbappe - not the players who play in their domestic league.

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For Mbappe it was the best showing of his career to date. He'd previously finished third in 2018 following his World Cup victory with France, but topped that after delivering the best goalscoring season of his career - leading charts in La Liga, the Champions League and at the World Cup.

His trophyless season may well have counted against him with Kane helping Bayern continue their German dominance - winning the league and cup double. He also got the better of Mbappe when England beat France to third at the World Cup.

From third to tenth the margins were relatively comfortable with few players close to going up or down the rankings. Rodri in fourth, Lionel Messi in fifth and seventh-placed Ousmane Dembele are the last three winners of the Ballon d'Or.

Kane said after his victory: “Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I can imagine it was really tough this year. Some of the incredible players I was up against, some of my team-mates and world-class players in the room tonight, so thank you to everyone who voted for me.

"Congratulations to all the winners, all the nominees tonight - an impressive showing of what determination and hard work can really achieve, so well done."

1. Harry Kane, 1,055 points

2. Kylian Mbappé, 1,027 points

3. Lamine Yamal, 881 points

4. Rodri, 726 points

5. Lionel Messi, 612 points

6. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, 541 points

7. Ousmane Dembélé, 418 points

8. Erling Haaland, 378 points

9. Michael Olise, 296 points

10. Fabian Ruiz, 201 points