Has Thierry Henry ever won the Ballon d'Or? Arsenal and Barcelona legend's history in top award image
Considered one of the greatest strikers of the modern age, Thierry Henry is revered within the history of football over the last few decades.
As a leading member of the Arsenal Invincibles team that went unbeaten across an entire Premier League season, Henry has won nearly every title there is in the sport — from three different major European league titles to a UEFA Champions League, and even a World Cup.
So, he has obviously also been just as accomplished on the individual level as well, surely? It would track that Henry has won the Ballon d'Or previously, as the world's most coveted individual prize in football.
Oddly, the truth may surprise you as the Ballon d'Or can sometimes prove more elusive than we think even for the all-time greats of the game.
MORE: Who has won the most Ballon d'Or trophies?
Did Thierry Henry ever win the Ballon d'Or?
Despite being nominated nine times for the Ballon d'Or, no, Thierry Henry did not ever win the coveted individual award.
The famed striker came exceedingly close on two occasions, but lost out twice to non-goal scorers on both occasions.
Henry came closest in 2003, when he was with Arsenal, finishing second to Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved, who had led the Italian side to not only a Serie A title but also the brink of the Champions League title, falling to fellow Italian giants AC Milan in the final on a penalty shootout.
Three years later, in 2006, Henry would finish third, behind defender Fabio Cannavaro and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Unfortunately for Henry, the years he put up his greatest individual numbers did not coincide with the years he secured his most impressive team accomplishments. While at Arsenal, Henry was great within the context of the English domestic league, but they only reached past the Champions League quarterfinals once during his time with the club, coming in 2005/06 when they were runners-up, but that year he finished behind two Italians that lifted the World Cup title.
After moving to Barcelona, Henry would perform better in the Champions League, which matters most to Ballon d'Or voters, but he was less of an individual juggernaut by then. The year he won his Champions League title, the 2008/09 campaign, teammate Lionel Messi would be the Ballon d'Or winner.
It just never came together for Henry.
Thierry Henry awards, titles
Thierry Henry won an incredible amount of silverware during his time as a player, but received surprisingly few individual honors for a player so highly revered in the history of the game.
Thierry Henry club titles
With Arsenal:
Premier League title (2): 2001/02, 2003/04
FA Cup (2): 2001/02, 2002/03
With Barcelona :
La Liga title (2): 2008/09, 2009/10
UEFA Champions League: 2008/09
Copa del Rey: 2008/09
FIFA Club World Cup: 2009
UEFA Super Cup: 2009
With Monaco:
Ligue 1 title (1): 1997
With New York Red Bulls:
Supporters' Shield: 2013
Eastern Conference title: 2010, 2013
With France:
FIFA World Cup: 1998
UEFA European Championship: 2000
FIFA Confederations Cup: 2003
Thierry Henry individual awards
With Arsenal:
Premier League Player of the Season: 2003/04, 2005/06
Premier League Golden Boot: 2001/02, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06
European Golden Shoe: 2003/04, 2004/05
UEFA Team of the Year: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
FIFPro World XI: 2006
With New York Red Bulls:
MLS Best XI: 2011, 2012, 2014