• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Thierry Henry addresses not winning the 2003 Ballon d'Or, he gave the perfect response

Home> Football> Football News

Updated 19:41 19 Mar 2024 GMTPublished 12:55 26 Oct 2023 GMT+1

Thierry Henry addresses not winning the 2003 Ballon d'Or, he gave the perfect response

Henry has addressed the reason why he didn't win.

Chris Byfield

Chris Byfield

Thierry Henry has addressed being snubbed for the Ballon d’Or in 2003.

In 2003, Juventus' Pavel Nedved won the Ballon d’Or after a scintillating campaign with Juventus in which his side won Serie A and finished as runners-up in the Champions League, losing to Milan on penalties.

The Czech Republic star was the primary creative force for his Juventus side, registering 14 goals and claiming a further 17 assists in that Ballon d’Or cycle.

Advert

However, a contingent of fans have long argued that Henry should have been the recipient of the annual award, after an exceptional year at Arsenal.

The Frenchman entrenched himself in English football history ahead of the 2003 Ballon d’Or ceremony, scoring 32 goals and creating 28 assists.

And speaking on CBS’ Champions League coverage, Micah Richards voiced the opinion of many Arsenal fans by questioning why Henry had not won the Ballon d’Or instead of Nedved.

Advert

Richards said: “2003. You had 32 goals and 28 assists that season. Nedved, who won it, had 14 goals and 17 assists.”

Henry said: “Look, you can’t debate opinions. When journalists are involved and have a vote, they vote for whoever they want.

“However you want to look at it, they vote for whoever they want. When you look at the vote in the history of [the Ballon d’Or], not only my year, you [often] look at the top three and think ‘Really?’


Advert


“You must have looked at some sometimes and thought, ‘Really?’ So it is what it is. You can’t debate opinions.”

Indeed, upon winning the prize two decades earlier, Nedved said via the Guardian: "I did not even dream of winning such an award. I heard about the nominees and being among them, but I did not believe in my chances too much.

Advert

"For me, Thierry Henry is the best forward in the world now. If I had voted I would have voted for Thierry and the other players on the podium."

He added: "I did not think I would beat Thierry Henry, Paolo Maldini or Zinedine Zidane. I am very happy for myself, my wife, my children and my country but I don't know how I beat Thierry Henry or Zinedine Zidane."

SPORTbible are on WhatsApp! We've launched a dedicated news channel to send you the latest news, features and plenty more directly on WhatsApp and all you need to do to sign up is click through to our one-way broadcast channel here for 'SPORTbible News' to appear in the 'Updates' tab on your WhatsApp.

Featured Image Credit: Getty/CBS

Topics: Football, Thierry Henry, Ballon d'Or, Juventus, Arsenal

Chris Byfield
Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Bombshell news emerges on future of shock Premier League manager whose club can still qualify for Champions League

    Huge news has emerged ahead of the final day of the Premier League season.

    Football
  • an hour ago

    Jack Grealish tipped to make transfer that would have been unthinkable months ago ahead of showdown talks with Pep Guardiola

    Jack Grealish has found himself horribly out of favour at Manchester City ahead of the summer transfer window.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Wrexham issue official response to rumours linking them with Jamie Vardy and Tom Cairney transfers

    The Red Dragons have officially confirmed their plans for the summer transfer window.

    Football
  • 3 hours ago

    Man Utd to receive huge cash injection ahead of the summer transfer window and it'll help fund Ruben Amorim's dream signing

    A bonus windfall could help Manchester United unlock a third major Premier League coup

    Football
  • Thierry Henry believes it's a 'disgrace' one England player never won the Ballon d'Or in his career
  • Micah Richards shocks Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry by revealing Ballon d'Or winner he messages
  • Thierry Henry believes only one defender in Premier League history was good enough to tackle him without committing a foul
  • Thierry Henry didn't stutter when naming the most underrated player 'in existence' and his passionate argument sums it up