Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has praised Arsenal great Thierry Henry, recognising the Frenchman as one of the finest left-sided attacking players in football history. The German former international placed Henry alongside Brazilian legend Ronaldinho in his ranking of outstanding players who have operated from the left flank, while Cristiano Ronaldo retained the top position in his selection.

According to a report by Football London, Kroos made the comments while discussing some of the most talented footballers to have played in wide attacking positions. His assessment attracted attention because Henry initially did not feature in his selection, despite the Frenchman's remarkable achievements and ability to influence matches from different attacking positions.

However, after considering the former Arsenal forward's qualities and the role he performed during his playing career, Kroos acknowledged that leaving him out was an oversight. The German midfielder subsequently revised his assessment and placed Henry joint-second alongside Ronaldinho, recognising the impact both players had when operating from the left side of the attack.

Kroos explained that Henry frequently began matches from the left during his successful spell at Arsenal before moving into more central areas to influence attacking situations. Although the Frenchman was often associated with the striker position, his movement across the forward line made him difficult for defenders to predict and contain.

He said: “At Arsenal, he often started from the left, and that was brilliant. But he would 1,000 per cent be a striker for me,” he later explained further.

The former Real Madrid midfielder's observation reflected Henry's ability to combine the responsibilities of a central forward with the qualities of a wide attacker. His pace, technical ability, movement and finishing allowed him to create opportunities from the left while remaining dangerous whenever he moved closer to goal.

Kroos eventually admitted that Henry deserved to share the second position in his ranking with Ronaldinho, placing both players behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

“I would actually put him joint-second with Ronaldinho,” he added.

The German also made a light-hearted remark about his initial omission of the Arsenal legend, suggesting that he owed Henry an apology for failing to include him when he first made his selection. His revised ranking demonstrated the level of admiration he has for the Frenchman's contribution to football and the exceptional qualities he displayed throughout his career.

Henry remains one of the most celebrated figures in Arsenal's history, having enjoyed an outstanding period at the North London club under former manager Arsene Wenger. His performances helped establish him as one of the most influential attacking players of his generation, while his individual brilliance and consistency made him a central figure in Arsenal's success.

During his most successful years at the Emirates' predecessor, Highbury, Arsenal regularly used a 4-4-2 formation. Henry often led the attack, while players such as Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg provided width and attacking support from wider positions. This arrangement allowed the Frenchman to move freely, exploit spaces and combine with his teammates in dangerous areas.

Although he was primarily deployed as a striker, Henry's ability to drift towards the left flank gave Arsenal another attacking dimension. He could use his speed to get beyond defenders, create chances for teammates or cut inside to produce goal-scoring opportunities. His versatility made it difficult for opposing defenders to anticipate his movements and decide how best to contain him.

His responsibilities also evolved after joining Barcelona, where he played under Pep Guardiola. In the Spanish side's 4-3-3 system, Henry regularly operated as a left-sided forward, demonstrating that he could remain effective in a wider role while contributing to the team's attacking play.

Kroos' recognition has therefore brought renewed attention to Henry's versatility and enduring reputation. By placing him alongside Ronaldinho, the German has acknowledged the Frenchman's ability to excel from the left and his lasting influence as one of football's most memorable attacking talents.