Thierry Henry Provides the Names of Top Contenders For The Ballon d’Or Award According To Him
Kolkata: Arsenal and France legend, Thierry Henry on Tuesday shortlisted Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann and Gareth Bale as the top contenders to win the Ballon d’Or this year.
“One of Bale, Leo, Ronaldo, and Griezmann could win the Ballon d’Or,” Henry told reporters here at a promotional event.
Henry who was a part of the ‘Invincibles’ squad under Arsene Wenger also labeled Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as class acts.
“Those guys are just abnormal. I’ve never seen players like them before and I am sure you’ve never seen before. They score what 50 goals 60 goals, 90 goals a season. It is irrelevant asking if defenders before would have stopped them and not fair on defenders of their time. We will never know that.”
Henry, who has played with Messi at FC Barcelona during his stint with the Catalan giants, added he would love to see Messi with it for a record sixth time.
“I have played with Leo so you know how I would feel if he wins. It is difficult to see anyone coming between him and Ronaldo,” Arsenal’s all-time top-scorer said.
Talking about his compatriot Paul Pogba’s woeful start to his Manchester United career, Henry said, “Mourinho is still looking for best 11, best system. When I came (to the Premier League), I wasn’t playing well. I have faith in Pogba. Nowadays people want things to happen very fast. He needs time to adapt.”
Henry was instrumental in Arsenal’s regaining the Premier League title in the 2003-04 season without losing a match. The feat earned Arsene Wenger’s side the title ‘Invincibles’.
Asked whether any team can emulate that feat, the lethal striker who is now the second assistant coach to Roberto Martinez in the Belgium national team, said, “ It is possible to repeat Invincibles’ feat of winning League by remaining unbeaten. But we did it first,” smirked the 39-year old.
The French international who has scored 50 career goals for Les Bleus feels his 1998 World Cup winning teammate and captain Zidane is on the right track as coach of Real Madrid.
“Definitely Zizou is on the right path. Winning the Champions League first up is great,” Henry said.
Asked to compare Premier League’s two most successful managers – Sir Alex Fergusson and Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal striker commented, “Arsene changed the philosophy of how football is to be played. And Ferguson did what he set out to, knock Liverpool off their perch.”
Lastly, speaking on his first visit to India, Henry said Indian football should look to the rise of countries like Iceland and Costa Rica.
“Football is more passionate nowadays in India. I know it is a cricket crazy country. But it is becoming popular as more International matches are shown live. Iceland and Costa Rica are proof that hard work pays. You need to start early and not at an age when you are becoming professional,” feel Henry.
Lastly, he brushed aside any possibility of coaching any ISL team in the near future. The star striker is in the city to witness the Indian Super League match between Atletico de Kolkata and Mumbai City FC at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium.