It might surprise you that, as an Arsenal fan, I’m writing about Harry Kane winning the Ballon d’Or. But credit where credit is due: he was a worthy winner. The last UK player to win the award was Michael Owen, back in 2001, when he was playing for Liverpool. It is unbelievable, really, that it has taken so long for a UK player to win the award, but now we have something to celebrate.

I have two sons looking to get into the football industry, and you couldn’t find a better role model for them than Harry Kane. He is a family man who is never in the newspapers for the wrong reasons, only for his goalscoring exploits for club and country.

There are now calls for him to be knighted and called Sir Harry, and I think that would be a fitting tribute.

There were 30 nominees for the women’s Ballon d’Or, with the main trophy being won by Spain’s Alexia Putellas, who has now won it on two previous occasions. What might have gone unnoticed, however, is that three of the players in the top 30 were born in Mallorca, and all three finished in the top 15.

Catalina “Cata” Coll finished 15th in the women’s competition. Following a historic season with Barcelona and the Spanish national team, the Mallorcan goalkeeper was also recognised as the world’s leading goalkeeper.

Cata was born in Pòrtol, north-east of Palma, near Santa Maria. She previously played for Sant Marcel, Cide, Marratxí and Collerense here on the island before being signed by Barcelona and sent out on loan to Sevilla. She is now back at Barcelona and, after recovering from a serious injury, has become Spain’s first-choice goalkeeper. While on the island, she trained at the Pablo Roca goalkeeping school, where my youngest son, Jude, has also trained.

Mariona Caldentey finished in 13th place. The forward was born in Felanitx, on the east coast of the island, where she began her career. She then played for Cide and Collerense before joining Barcelona in 2014. After winning numerous titles, she joined Arsenal in 2024. She plays as an attacking midfielder or forward for Arsenal in the Women’s Super League and for the Spanish national team. Known for her elite tactical intelligence, versatility and press resistance, she is widely considered one of the finest playmakers of her generation.

Patri Guijarro finished highest of the three, in fifth place. The midfielder was born in Palma and played for UD Collerense before joining Barcelona at the age of 17. Regarded as one of the best deep-lying playmakers in women’s football, she serves as Barcelona’s club captain, controlling the tempo of the team’s play and providing the defensive foundation that allows teammates such as Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas to thrive in more advanced positions.

Girls’ and women’s football is thriving on the island, which is great to see. Even Real Mallorca have now joined the party, having officially launched their women’s programme ahead of the 2025/26 season.