Thierry Henry Questions Ballon D'Or Dominance of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry believes the increased focus on goal scoring and star power has led other areas of the sport to get overlooked in recent years. That's why Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated the Ballon d'Or award for the past six years.

The Guardian passed along an exempt from the next issue of The Blizzard, which includes a Thierry Marchand interview with Henry. It covers a wide range of topics, but one of the main ones being the lost appreciation for the playmaker:

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I wasn't born with a gift for goals. As I started my professional career on the wing, I also worked on my crossing—which helped me understand the role of the guy who passes the ball. We give praise to the guy who scores and, as a result, we're too quick to forget the guy who busts a gut to cross the ball behind the defence.

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The 37-year-old forward, who recently finished his contract with the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer, won the Ballon d'Or in 2004. He was one of the last before the era of Ronaldo and Messi began, with one of those two getting the honor each year since 2008.

He praises the nearly unmatched physical attributes of the Real Madrid star and the immense technical skill displayed by the Barcelona sensation. Alas, he also states they possess natural ability that's impossible to teach.

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So when it comes to educating young players, he instead points to players like Xavi. Those who are crucial to a team, but not necessarily the ones on the finishing end of the attacks. As a whole, it's an appreciation for the Spanish style of play:

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Not everyone is Zizou, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. I'd like to have an explanation of the fact that no Spaniard has won the Ballon d'Or over the last four years. The game is too focused on the individual. Stars are fine. But within the team, not without.

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Xavi and Andres Iniesta have been among the finalists for the top individual honor in recent years. They were beaten out by Messi and Ronaldo. At the very least, Henry raises the question about whether those decisions were correct or simply a reflection of how the game is viewed right now.

It's a fair point. The comments probably won't lead to a change, though. Both Messi and Ronaldo are among the finalists for the award once again for 2014 along with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. None of the playmakers Henry advocates for made the final cut.