Henry challenges Real pair for world award

Thierry Henry has the chance to cap a remarkable 12 months tomorrow as he goes head-to-head with Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo for the World Player of the Year award in Basle.

The Arsenal striker, the subject of bid reported to be around £40-£50million from Chelsea last week, has been inspirational in the Gunners’ march to the knockout stages of the Champions League and France’s run to the finals of Euro 2004.

He also finished as the leading scorer in the Confederations Cup – a tournament overshadowed by the tragic death of Marc-Vivien Foe.

The 26-year-old is certainly not short of admirers. His team-mate at both club and international level, Patrick Vieira, said: “He’d certainly have my vote as what he has done with France and Arsenal has been unbelievable this year. He really deserves to win it.

“Thierry just enjoys himself. The basis of it all is that he likes to play football and you can see how much he loves this sport.

“He really likes to score goals but he likes to set them up as well. That’s how you can see a difference between a good and a great player, and he’s really up there at the top.”

Jacques Santini, coach of a France side who won all eight qualifiers on their way to Portugal next summer, added: “Henry has the stature of a leader. He had a challenge to pick himself up after the 1998 World Cup and he became a leader after Euro 2000.

“He will have to continue to take responsibility for that role.”

Henry faces competition from Real Madrid duo Ronaldo and Zidane, however.

Ronaldo, who won the award last year for a third time based largely on his performances at the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, has overcome a slow start in the Spanish capital to become a key component in Madrid’s star-studded line up.

He netted 23 goals in 31 games to help Madrid to their 29th Primera Liga crown last season and has started the new campaign in equally prolific fashion.

If Ronaldo has been the chief finisher in Madrid, there is no doubt as to the identity of Madrid’s main creative talent.

Zidane is the midfield hub of both Madrid and France, combining a prodigious work-rate with an enormous hunger for providing goals for his team-mates.

He has already won the World Player of the Year award twice – in 1998 and 2000 - although surprisingly he is only considered an outsider this time round.

His two previous successes came in years when he was instrumental in France’s victories in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.