According to a report by Daily Post Nigeria published on Friday, October 23, 2026, former Manchester United teammates Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs have shared their predictions for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with both former players expecting Kylian Mbappé to finish among the top two contenders for the prestigious individual award.

The ceremony is scheduled to take place in London next Monday, with several leading footballers competing for recognition as the world's best player. Among the leading candidates are England captain Harry Kane, France international Mbappé, Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise.

Giggs has tipped Yamal to win the award following the Barcelona youngster’s impressive performances. The former Wales international places Mbappé in second position, while Bellingham completes his predicted top three. His selection reflects his belief that Yamal could overcome several established stars to claim one of football’s most coveted individual honours.

The former Manchester United winger's prediction puts the Barcelona forward ahead of Mbappé, who remains one of the strongest candidates because of his performances at the highest level. Giggs also expects Bellingham to secure a place among the three leading players, leaving other notable contenders outside his predicted podium.

Ferdinand, however, has delivered a different verdict on the likely outcome. The former Manchester United defender believes Kane will emerge as the winner, with Mbappé finishing second and Olise occupying third place. His forecast differs significantly from Giggs's, particularly regarding the player expected to claim the award.

Unlike his former teammate, Ferdinand has left both Yamal and Bellingham out of his predicted top three. Instead, he has backed the Bayern Munich winger to join Kane and Mbappé among the leading finishers when the final results are announced.

Despite their differing opinions, both former United stars agree that Mbappé is likely to finish among the top two players in the competition. Their predictions highlight the uncertainty surrounding the race, as several elite footballers have presented strong cases for recognition.

Voting for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has reportedly closed, and the votes have been counted ahead of the ceremony. However, the official rankings remain undisclosed, leaving supporters waiting to discover whether Giggs or Ferdinand will correctly predict the winner and the final podium.