According to a report by Daily Post on Friday, October 23, 2026, former Manchester United teammates Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs have revealed the players they expect to finish in the top three at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in London next Monday, with several top footballers competing for the prestigious individual honour.

Among this year’s leading contenders are England and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, France and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, Barcelona’s Spanish star Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise.

Giggs believes Yamal will win the award, placing Mbappé second and selecting Bellingham to complete his predicted top three. His choices suggest that he expects the young Barcelona forward to finish ahead of several established stars.

Ferdinand, however, has a different prediction. The former Manchester United defender expects Kane to claim the prize, with Mbappé finishing second and Olise taking third place. Unlike Giggs, Ferdinand has left both Yamal and Bellingham out of his predicted top three.

The two former United teammates agree that Mbappé will finish among the leading contenders, but they differ over who will claim the top spot and which players will join him on the podium.

Voting for the Ballon d’Or has already closed, and the votes have been counted. However, the final results remain confidential until the ceremony, when the winner and official rankings will be announced.