Henry: Spain isolated Messi; Rodri could win another Ballon d'Or

French legend and former Barcelona player Henry praised Spain's dominant performance in their FIFA World Cup final victory over Argentina, calling Spain the braver and more deserving champion.

The former Barcelona forward said Spain's possession and pressing made it almost impossible for their opponents to perform: "I have to admit that Spain deserves a lot of credit because, from the first minute, they played like a team convinced that the FIFA World Cup belonged to them. Spain controlled the tempo, possession, and space, and for a long time, Argentina couldn't even get close to them."

Henry also said the victory belonged to team football: "When you watch a FIFA World Cup final, you always expect the star players to have their brilliant moments. But tonight, the story revolved around Spain's overall brilliance. Yamal was not intimidated, the midfield performed extremely well, and Ferran Torres created a moment that will be remembered forever in Spanish football history."

Henry believes Spain even managed to restrict Messi: "What surprised me the most was Argentina's lack of attacking intent. This team has Messi, but Spain still made one of the greatest players in history look isolated for most of the match. This was not accidental, but rather the result of tactical discipline, overall organization, and a perfectly executed game plan."

Regarding Enzo's sending off, Henry's stance was clear: "First, I think the referee's decision was absolutely correct. It was the decision he had to make. Enzo fully deserved a red card. To be honest, he was lucky not to have been sent off earlier. He had committed several reckless fouls earlier in the game, seemingly testing his luck. In the end, he paid the price for it. The foul on Cubarsí was dangerous. With such excessive force in the tackle, the referee had no other option. Player safety always comes first."

Regarding the Ballon d'Or, Henry believes Rodri still has a chance to win the trophy again: "I think Rodri will win another Ballon d'Or. Messi once won the Ballon d'Or after being the best player in the tournament and winning the FIFA World Cup, and now the same thing could happen again."

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