Rio Ferdinand Snubs Mbappe and Messi, Names His Pick to Win 2026 Ballon d’Or
- Rio Ferdinand publicly backed a specific player to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, dismissing other high-profile names in the running
- The Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled for October 26, 2026, in London, with Spain's World Cup duo and Harry Kane among the frontrunners
- Kane finished the 2025-26 season with 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich, winning the European Golden Boot
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Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has come out firmly in support of Harry Kane as his pick to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, pushing back against claims from those favouring global superstars such as Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
The Bayern Munich striker closed out the 2025-26 campaign with 61 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions, helping the Bavarian club secure back-to-back Bundesliga titles.
Source: Getty Images
His 36 league goals earned him a second German Golden Boot, matching the record he set in the 2023-24 season.
According to GiveMeSport, he also finished as England's top scorer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held across the United States, Mexico and Canada, despite the Three Lions falling short of lifting the trophy.
Speaking via the Bundesliga's official X account, Ferdinand made his case for Kane on the back of a remarkable individual season:
"Seventy-three goals in a season; only Lionel Messi has ever scored more goals in a single season than Harry Kane. You won the European Golden Boot, top scorer for England at the World Cup. Who else? Who else should win the Ballon d'Or apart from Harry Kane?"
Ferdinand's backing would make Kane the first Englishman to claim football's most prestigious individual honour since Michael Owen won it in 2001.
Who else Is in the race for the Ballon d'Or?
The October 26 ceremony in London is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in years.
According to La Gazzetta, Spain's World Cup winners Rodri and Lamine Yamal are widely considered frontrunners, with Rodri collecting the tournament's Golden Ball award.
The Manchester City midfielder has, however, endured a relatively quiet club season by his own lofty standards, which may count against him.
Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele, who won the award in 2025 after leading the French club to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, is another name in consideration, along with PSG teammates Fabian Ruiz and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Dembele's successful defence of the award would be a significant achievement in its own right.
Trophy success has traditionally carried enormous weight in Ballon d'Or voting, a factor that both the Spanish World Cup winners and Kane's personal goal-scoring milestones will lean on heavily as the debate intensifies ahead of the ceremony.
Kane breaks silence on Ballon d'Or chances
Earlier, Legit.ng reported about Kane's aspirations for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, where he expressed that the outcome is beyond his control despite a stellar season.
With fierce competition from notable players like Kylian Mbappe and Rodri, Kane's exceptional record of 73 goals this season places him among the leading contenders, raising the stakes as the award ceremony approaches in London.
Source: Legit.ng
