In the fierce competition for first-team action at Barcelona between superstar forwards Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the France international has the upper hand at the moment with an overall FTBL rating approximately 10 points higher that the Swede’s. But can Henry maintain that lead for any considerable length of time?

Most likely no. For one, the Frenchman has a daunting combined plank of approximately 90 rating points in his next 5 games, while Ibrahimovic has to clear 70 rating points. Secondly, it seems coach Guardiolla is giving Henry less and less time on the pitch, preferring to try incrementally young Pedrito.

Our prediction is that Henry’s overall rating will drop to 160 points by mid November. He might redress the bar later with France in the playoffs for World Cup 2010 in South Africa.