Former Arsenal star Thierry Henry says he cannot understand why Thomas Muller has been overlooked for the Ballon d’Or
Muller lifted the World Cup with Germany this summer after helping Bayern Munich to the domestic double in Germany.
He was subsequently named on the 23-man shortlist for the 2014 prize, but missed out on a spot in the final three to Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and team-mate Manuel Neuer.
While Henry admits the three nominees fully deserve their chance to lift the trophy, the now-retired former France international claims Muller merits greater recognition.
“I don’t understand why Thomas Muller is not there. Messi and Ronaldo are extraordinary. What they do is not human. Neuer deserves to be there, too. But why didn’t we think of Thomas Muller?” Henry told RMC Sport.
“He would have been my guy, because he doesn’t do stepovers, nutmegs and all this stuff, but this guy already has 13 or 14 goals in the World Cup. And he’s a World Cup winner. Why is he not there?”
Henry went on to back Paris Saint-Germain to overcome Chelsea in the Champions League last 16 this season, but has warned the French champions of the threat posed by Lyon in Ligue 1.
“PSG can win against Chelsea. Anything can happen in two games,” he continued. “In terms of Ligue 1, it all depends on what they do in the Champions League, because it consumes energy.
“The away trips, the mental factor… It can be complicated in big games. Lyon aren’t playing anything [in Europe], so beware.”
There have been calls in recent weeks for Henry to be given one final cap for France to finish his career with and he says it would be impossible to turn down such an opportunity if it was offered, though he stressed nothing had been tabled.
“If they call me, I’ll be there,” he added. “Naturally, I won’t ask for anything. I will not say: ‘I would love to.’ But if they call I will answer it.”