Zidane pips Henry to award

Thierry Henry missed out on the chance to make English football history today when he finished second behind France team-mate Zinedine Zidane in the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

In the prestigious poll of national coaches and managers, the Arsenal striker gathered 186 points to the Real Madrid midfielder's 264.

Zidane's clubmate Ronaldo of Brazil was third with 176. Manchester United's forward Ruud van Nistelrooy was sixth with 86, just ahead of England captain David Beckham who won 74 points.

Zidane, who has won the title twice before in 1998 and 2000 when he was at Juventus, was the first choice of 35 coaches.

Henry, the top choice of 21 managers, was bidding to become the first player from an English club to pick up the award.

The Arsenal striker's place among the top three will boost his value on the transfer market, however, especially since he is already on the shopping lists of Chelsea and Real Madrid.