Ballon d’Or 2026: ‘There’s only one man’ – Rio Ferdinand names player to win award

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has backed England captain Harry Kane to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

Ferdinand spoke while congratulating Kane after the Bayern Munich striker was recently awarded the Golden Shoe as Europe’s top goalscorer for the second time in his career.

“73 goals in a season; only Lionel Messi has ever scored more goals in a single season than Harry Kane,” Ferdinand said (via Bundesliga on X).

“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? There’s only one man, Harry Kane,” he said.

This year’s Ballon d’Or award ceremony will take place in London on October 26.