Former Manchester United teammates Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs have made different predictions for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, although both expect France international Kylian Mbappé to finish among the top two candidates.

According to a report by Daily Post Nigeria on Friday, October 23, 2026, the two former United stars have revealed their predicted top-three finishers ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled to hold in London next Monday.

Several top players are competing for the prestigious individual award, including England captain Harry Kane, Mbappé, Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise.

Giggs has tipped Yamal to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, ranking the Barcelona forward above Mbappé and Bellingham in his predicted standings.

The former Wales international expects Mbappé to finish in second place, while Bellingham completes his top three.

His selection places Yamal ahead of several established stars in European football as the race for the individual honour approaches its conclusion.

Ferdinand, however, has a different view of the competition. The former Manchester United defender has predicted that Kane will emerge as the winner, with Mbappé finishing second and Olise securing third place.

Unlike Giggs, Ferdinand has left both Yamal and Bellingham out of his predicted top three, instead backing the Bayern Munich winger to make the podium.

The contrasting predictions reflect the uncertainty surrounding this year's award. While both former teammates agree that Mbappé is likely to finish among the leading contenders, they disagree over the eventual winner and the players expected to join him in the top three.

Voting for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has reportedly closed, and the votes have been counted ahead of the ceremony. However, the official rankings and the identity of the winner remain unknown until the results are announced.