According to a report by Daily Post on Friday, October 23, 2026, former Manchester United teammates Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs have given different predictions for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, although both expect Kylian Mbappé to finish among the top two contenders.

The two former United players have revealed their preferred top-three rankings ahead of the awards ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in London next Monday.

Several high-profile footballers are competing for the prestigious individual award, including England captain Harry Kane, French forward Mbappé, Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise.

Giggs has tipped Yamal to win the award, placing the Barcelona forward ahead of Mbappé and Bellingham in his predicted rankings.

The former Wales international expects Mbappé to finish second, while Bellingham completes his selection in third place. His prediction puts Yamal ahead of several established stars as the race for football’s most prestigious individual honour approaches its conclusion.

Ferdinand, however, has a different winner in mind. The former Manchester United defender has backed Kane to claim the Ballon d’Or, with Mbappé finishing second and Olise taking third place.

Unlike Giggs, Ferdinand has left both Yamal and Bellingham out of his predicted top three, instead favouring the Bayern Munich winger to secure a place among the leading contenders.

The contrasting predictions reflect the uncertainty surrounding this year’s award. While both former teammates expect Mbappé to finish near the top, they disagree over the likely winner and the players who will complete the podium.

Voting for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has reportedly closed, with ballots counted ahead of the ceremony. However, the official rankings and the identity of the winner remain undisclosed until the announcement.