By Phil McNulty Chief football writer

Zidane scoops world honour

Roman Abramovich would pay �50m for Thierry Henry and Arsenal regard him as priceless - but it is still not enough to make this unique talent World Player of the Year.

Arsenal will be shrouded in disappointment that the jewel in their crown has not had a brilliant year rewarded with football's biggest individual prize.

Henry will no doubt take the decision to award France team-mate Zinedine Zidane the Fifa award for the third time with his customary grace and dignity.

But he has every right to wonder what more he can do on a personal basis to claim the accolade that appears to be the personal property of Italy and Spain - in particularly Real Madrid.

In 13 years, the award has never been given to a player plying his trade outside Italy or Spain.

Henry's failure to win the prize may be explained by his misfortune to play in the same era as the great Zidane.

And perhaps more significantly, he plays in an Arsenal team that has yet to make a serious impact on the most important club stage of all, the Champions League.

Ronaldo was placed behind Henry

Zidane is a worthy winner, a football statesman who has claimed every top honour, but even he would not have complained had Henry claimed the award.

Henry had the consolation of finishing in second place ahead of Zidane's Real Madrid team-mate Ronaldo, but he has missed out when his stock is at its highest.

And, ironically, he missed out just weeks after giving one of the finest individual performances the Champions League has witnessed, scoring twice and terrorising Inter Milan in a 5-1 win in the San Siro.

It has provided Henry with the platform to showcase his skills in the later stages of the Champions League - and attracted interest from the all-powerful chequebook of Chelsea owner Abramovich.

Abramovich, by all accounts, never got beyond first base with Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein when presenting his formal interest in taking Henry to Stamford Bridge.

PREVIOUS WINNERS 2002: Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 2001: Luis Figo (Real Madrid) 2000: Zidane (Juventus) 1999: Rivaldo (Barcelona) 1998: Zidane (Juventus) 1997: Ronaldo (Inter Milan) 1996: Ronaldo (Barcelona) 1995: George Weah (AC Milan) 1994: Romario (Barcelona) 1993: Roberto Baggio (Juve) 1992: Van Basten (AC Milan) 1991: Lothar Matthaus (Inter)

Arsenal may require cash to fund their new Ashburton Grove stadium, but they also know they will have less chance of filling it if they arrive there without Henry.

And that is why they are determined to resist all of Abramovich's advances, even if he returns with a record-breaking bid.

Henry is a true star of the world game, a magnificent operator on the pitch and the consumate professional off it.

He has pace, power, grace, and goals in abundance - a creator and taker of chances.

Henry is also dedicated to his trade, reportedly even contacting newspapers recently after it was reported he was sipping champagne in a Barcelona nightclub.

As far as I'm concerned the wrong player won. Zidane is a superb player but there is no way he deserved it this year more than Henry From The Crippler Have your say on 606

He was at pains to point out he does not touch alcohol and does not want even minor misrepresentation of his life off the field.

Henry's consolation is that he remains just as important a part of the France team as Zidane - and will continue his career development under mentor Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.