Historic Ballon d'Or glory for Harry Kane as Arsenal suffer Zubimendi injury blow

The 70th Ballon d'Or gala in London wrote itself into the history books as Harry Kane was crowned, ending a 25-year wait for an English winner since Michael Owen's triumph. While the former Tottenham Hotspur striker's historic achievement brought immense pride to the nation, the celebratory mood was somewhat dampened in North London.

Fresh from a 2-0 victory over Everton that drew Arsenal level on points at the top of the Premier League, the Gunners were dealt a bitter blow with news that midfielder Martin Zubimendi had suffered a broken nose. The injury has cast a shadow over the victory, threatening to disrupt their upcoming campaign.

2026 Ballon d'Or: History beckons for former Spurs talisman Harry Kane

At London's Palladium Theatre, the 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony officially crowned Harry Kane with football's ultimate individual honour. It marks a historic milestone as the former Tottenham Hotspur striker—who boasts a legacy of 213 Premier League goals—became the first Englishman to claim the award since Michael Owen in 2001.

Meanwhile, Erling Haaland led the Premier League contingent with an eighth-place finish, while Declan Rice broke into the top 20. Other notable top-flight stars including Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, and Bruno Fernandes all secured spots in the top 30, alongside Bukayo Saka, who was honoured with the prestigious Socrates Award for his outstanding humanitarian work.

Arsenal sweat over Martin Zubimendi broken nose after Everton win

A major talking point following the Everton win was the facial injury sustained by Martin Zubimendi. The 27-year-old midfielder suffered a broken nose after a heavy collision with Thierno Barry in the final ten minutes, forcing him to wear a protective mask for the upcoming Carabao Cup clash against Fleetwood Town.

It is a cruel setback for Zubimendi, who has been fighting to establish himself in North London. The injury compounds a frustrating start to life at Arsenal, where he has made just a single start in all competitions this season, making his battle for a regular starting spot even more challenging.

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In summary, Harry Kane's historic 2026 Ballon d'Or triumph has ended England's quarter-century drought, cementing his status as a world-class marksman. In stark contrast to that glory, Arsenal must now navigate a testing squad selection dilemma as Martin Zubimendi's injury exposes potential depth issues for Mikel Arteta.

Does Harry Kane fully deserve the 2026 Ballon d'Or after years of relentless consistency, and how will Arsenal cope with this latest injury setback to sustain their fierce title charge?