Twenty years after being overtaken by Pavel Nedved, Thierry Henry received the Ballon d’Or. Well almost…
Luis Figo in 2000, Fabio Cannavaro in 2006, Lionel Messi in 2010, Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013: certain winners of the Ballon d’Or have really caused controversy over the last twenty-five years, harming other players who, in the process, like Zinedine Zidane, Wesley Sneijder or even Franck Ribéry, would have fully deserved to be crowned.
Thierry Henry, too, may have it bad for having come so close to supreme individual distinction. It was in 2003, the year Pavel Nedved beat him. The Czech international, who was then playing for Juventus, had certainly had a good season, but the French striker had literally been on fire with Arsenal (42 goals and 26 assists in 68 matches).
“I’ve been waiting for this for so long.”
To repair this injustice, the CBS Sports team, the channel for which the current coach of the French Espoirs is still a consultant, has a surprise in store for him. Disguised as Santa Claus, Micah Richards offered the 1998 world champion a copy of the trophy. “You didn’t get it but you totally deserved it”the ex-Manchester City player told him.
Enough to make the former Gunner smile. “You finally received my letter!”he replied. I sent it a long time ago! I’ve been waiting for this for so long. You are late ! » Twenty years after what remains one of the biggest scandals in the history of the Ballon d’Or, it is not certain that Thierry Henry will put this gift in his trophy case. But it’s the gesture that counts…
What do you get the man who has everything? 🤔
St. Meeks brought Thierry Henry the one thing he should’ve gotten 20 years ago. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ToDx9B5mAK
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 13, 2023
