Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has weighed in on the Ballon d'Or debate, backing a Barcelona player over Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.
Salah has been putting in outstanding displays for the Premier League powerhouse, and many football fans have backed his case for the Ballon d'Or. The Egyptian international has scored over 30 goals in 50 games across all competitions so far.
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On the other hand, the Brazilian forward Raphinha has also been showing impressive performances for the LaLiga giants this season so fa, helping the club reach the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
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While several people are advocating for Salah to win the Ballon d'Or award, Henry has overlooked the African superstar and tipped Barca's forward Raphinha for the prestigious honour.
"Raphinha is at the forefront for me now [in the race for the Ballon d'Or], he is leading due to his contributions in the Champions League," Henry said on CBS Sports, as reported by FourFourTwo.
"He has 11 goals in the Champions League. Mo Salah is a strong contender for it, Kane is also a candidate, and [Ousmane] Dembele.
"I am not suggesting that Kane and Salah shouldn't be credited for penalties; Mo Salah is having a Premier League season that we might never see again.
"I am indicating that if a player has nearly the same number of goals as you guys scored without the aid of penalties, I won't claim what you accomplished is poor - it is exceptional - but this player deserves additional discussion," Henry concluded.
"Raphinha, when individuals talk about being well-rounded as a striker, needs to grasp the importance of applying pressure and defending, along with assisting your full-backs. And he has all of that."