Henry je tako postao četvrti Francuz koji je osvajio ovu nagradu. Prije njega to je uspjelo Robertu Piresu, Ericu Cantoni i Davidu Ginoli.
Dosadašnji osvajači nagrade za najboljeg nogometaša godine u izboru Engleskog udruženja nogometnih novinara (EFWA):
1948 Stanley Matthews Blackpool
1949 Johnny Carey Manchester United
1950 Joe Mercer Arsenal
1951 Harry Johnston Blackpool
1952 Billy Wright Wolverhampton
1953 Nat Lofthouse Bolton Wanderers
1954 Tom Finney Preston
1955 Don Revie Manchester City
1956 Bert Trautman Manchester City
1957 Tom Finney Preston
1958 Danny Blanchflower Tottenham Hotspur
1959 Syd Owen Luton
1960 Bill Slater Wolverhampton
1961 Danny Blanchflower Tottenham Hotspur
1962 Jimmy Adamson Burnley
1963 Stanley Matthews Stoke
1964 Bobby Moore West Ham United
1965 Bobby Collins Leeds United
1966 Bobby Charlton Manchester United
1967 Jack Charlton Leeds United
1968 George Best Manchester United
1969 Tony Book Manchester City
Dave Mackay Derby
1970 Billy Bremner Leeds United
1971 Frank McLintock Arsenal
1972 Gordon Banks Stoke City
1973 Pat Jennings Tottenham Hotspur
1974 Ian Callaghan Liverpool
1975 Alan Mullery Fulham
1976 Kevin Keegan Liverpool
1977 Emlyn Hughes Liverpool
1978 Kenny Burns Nottingham Forest
1979 Kenny Dalglish Liverpool
1980 Terry McDermott Liverpool
1981 Frans Thijssen Ipswich
1982 Steve Perryman Tottenham Hotspur
1983 Kenny Dalglish Liverpool
1984 Ian Rush Liverpool
1985 Neville Southall Everton
1986 Gary Lineker Everton
1987 Clive Allen Tottenham Hotspur
1988 John Barnes Liverpool
1989 Steve Nicol Liverpool
1990 John Barnes Liverpool
1991 Gordon Strachan Leeds United
1992 Gary Lineker Tottenham Hotspur
1993 Chris Waddle Sheffield Wednesday
1994 Alan Shearer Blackburn Rovers
1995 Jurgen Klinsmann Tottenham Hotspur
1996 Eric Cantona Manchester United
1997 Gianfranco Zola Chelsea
1998 Dennis Bergkamp Arsenal
1999 David Ginola Tottenham Hotspur
2000 Roy Keane Manchester United
2001 Teddy Sheringham Manchester United
2002 Robert Pires Arsenal
2003 Thierry Henry Arsenal