Henry: Mbappé my preferred candidate for the Ballon d'Or

French football legend Thierry Henry has selected his fellow countryman Kylian Mbappé as his first choice to win the Ballon d'Or, surpassing compatriot Michael Olise and Lionel Messi in the race for the award.

Thierry Henry has stated: "Kylian Mbappé is my favourite for the Ballon d'Or. If Lionel Messi had won the FIFA World Cup, I think he would have won the Ballon d'Or, and he comes just behind him by a small margin."

He added: "I know some will say that Mbappé hasn't won anything, but I think some need to do more research, because some Ballon d'Or winners hadn't won titles in the previous season."

Henry explained that his choice of Mbappé is largely based on his individual statistics, stating: "When you look at what he has achieved on an individual level, you will find that he was the top scorer in the UEFA Champions League, the top scorer in La Liga, and the top scorer in the FIFA World Cup."

Thierry Henry praised Michael Olise's performance, emphasizing that the French player has remarkable numbers in terms of assists. He said: "Olise has similar numbers in terms of key passes, and that is simply amazing."

Thierry Henry concluded his statements by firmly stating his position in the Ballon d'Or race: "I will choose Kylian Mbappé, with Michael Olise just behind him by a small margin."