Ballon d’Or: Rio Ferdinand names player bound to win award

Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, has expressed his enactment for Real Madrid midfielder, Jude Bellingham, successful his pursuit of the Ballon d’Or.

During a speech with his erstwhile Manchester United teammate, Javier Chicharito Hernandez, connected the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the ex-England planetary seemed to hold with Chicharito’s appraisal that Bellingham is “underrated” and further stated his admiration for the erstwhile Borussia Dortmund player.

“I would spell truthful acold arsenic to accidental that I judge helium volition triumph a Ballon d’Or 1 day,” Ferdinand remarked.

Bellingham, who made his determination to Real Madrid successful 2023, has positioned himself arsenic 1 of the premier midfielders globally. Nevertheless, helium has not yet secured football’s astir prestigious idiosyncratic accolade.

To this point, helium has received 3 nominations for the award, with his astir caller information occurring successful 2025.

His highest placement was successful 2024, wherever helium achieved a third-place decorativeness pursuing an outstanding debut play with Real Madrid and his publication to England reaching the European Championship final.

His archetypal Ballon d’Or information was successful 2023 portion with Borussia Dortmund, wherever helium ranked 18th. He placed 23rd successful the 2025 voting and continues to beryllium recognized as...