Former Manchester United teammates Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs have offered contrasting predictions for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with both backing Kylian Mbappé to finish among the top two contenders.

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

Several prominent players are in contention for the prestigious individual honour, including England captain Harry Kane, France international Mbappé, Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise.

Giggs has backed Yamal to claim the award, placing the Barcelona youngster ahead of Mbappé and Bellingham in his predicted rankings.

The former Wales international expects Mbappé to finish second, with Bellingham completing his top three.

His prediction puts Yamal ahead of some of the biggest names in European football as the competition for the individual prize reaches its conclusion.

Ferdinand, however, has offered a different assessment of the race. The former Manchester United defender believes Kane will win the Ballon d’Or, with Mbappé finishing second and Olise taking third place.

Unlike Giggs, Ferdinand has excluded both Yamal and Bellingham from his predicted podium, instead backing the Bayern Munich forward to secure a place among the award's three leading finishers.

The contrasting selections highlight the uncertainty surrounding the outcome, with both former teammates agreeing on Mbappé's expected position among the leading contenders but differing over the likely winner and the other players who will complete the top three.

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