Thierry Henry has ranked his top three number nines in this season’s edition of the Champions League.
Henry, who was one of the best strikers in Premier League history, himself scored 50 goals in Europe’s premier club competition, across spells at Monaco, Arsenal and Barcelona.
The Frenchman is now a pundit for American broadcaster CBS’ coverage of the Champions League and was joined in their studio by Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards on Tuesday night.
As one of the topics of discussion, the Premier League legend was asked to pick who he thought were the three best number nines in the current campaign’s edition of the tournament.
It was a task that Henry claimed was “pretty easy” for him to do, with audible shocks in the room when he named Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski as his pick for number three.
“Lewandowski. You know what, I was waiting for the ‘oooo’ to calm down, now it’s down I can talk,” he told CBS.
“Lewandowski, why? He’s been doing to for a long time, one of the best predators that I’ve seen in the game.
“But he’s won one Champions League. It is enough, but the guys ahead of him did it multiple times, together, I’ll give you a clue, and times and times again.
“So, you have to respect that because those guys will tell you, longevity, winning and scoring goals is not easy at that level. And they are still doing it.”
Karim Benzema, who became the first player to score in 17 successive Champions League seasons with a goal against Sherrif on Tuesday, was Henry’s choice for number two.
“Because, I think for me, he is the most complete striker in the world. Complete doesn’t mean you’re the best,” he added.
“He has answered the call since Ronaldo left, he has won the Champions League so many times and that’s good enough I think for number two.”
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CBS had accidentally shown Cristiano Ronaldo ’s name when Henry’s choice for number two was revealed.
The Manchester United star was instead Henry’s selection for number one, with the former Arsenal star hailing the Portuguese attacker.
“Number one is the master Ronaldo. You have to give this guy a lot of credit,” Henry said.
“Because simply what he has done in the national team, what he’s doing right now for United, what he was doing even for Juve, Real Madrid obviously, United before.
“It is second to none. If you are talking about a nine, you have to give it him, it is respect. Right now, he’s still delivering.”
Carragher had questioned Henry’s choices, suggesting he was choosing based on historical performance rather than current form.
But it was a suggestion that Henry hit back at, highlighting the three players recent achievements in front of goal.
“Based on what he is doing right now, yes. If I am a sporting director and you’re asking who is still delivering and scoring goals, those guys are,” he said.
“If you are telling me I am a sporting director looking at the future of a club, maybe I will go for a Haaland because I’m thinking for the future of a club.
“But if you’re telling me now, who are the best, those are the best.
“Right now, Ronaldo finished top scorer of Serie A, Benzema is he scoring goals right now? Yes, he is. Lewandowski is he scoring goals right now? Yes, he is.”
