Shevchenko beats Henry to 'Golden Ball' award
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Your support makes all the difference.Thierry Henry yesterday missed out on the European Footballer of the Year award as Andrei Shevchenko took the honour.
Thierry Henry yesterday missed out on the European Footballer of the Year award as Andrei Shevchenko took the honour.
The Milan striker held off competition from the Barcelona pair of Deco and Ronaldinho, who took second and third respectively, with Henry in fourth.
The award, known as the Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball), is awarded by France Football magazine who take an annual poll of journalists from 52 European countries. Shevchenko, 28, struck 24 goals in 32 games last season as Milan secured their first Serie A title for five years.
A double strike in Sunday's 6-0 win over Fiorentina took his league tally for this season to 11.
The Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, had on Sunday argued that it would be disgraceful if Henry missed out both on the Ballon d'Or and Fifa's World Player of the Year award, for which he is one of three shortlisted players - alongside Ronaldinho and Shevchenko.
"It would be a scandal if he didn't win at least one of the awards," Wenger said after the 2-2 draw with Chelsea, in which Henry scored both Arsenal goals. "I'd personally give him both. Compare him to some players, with what they have won and the number of goals they have scored, and it would be scandalous if he doesn't get it.
"I'm not especially speaking about Shevchenko, I'm speaking about other players. Maybe they have scored three goals, have good press relations and are pumped up by a good sponsor. But it's a sport where you should live with reality."
Deco, in second place, was surprisingly high, but he was a key figure in Porto's Champions' League triumph and is now dazzling for Barcelona, runaway leaders of La Liga.
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