Former Arsenal star Abou Diaby has made the extraordinary claim that persistent injury was the only thing standing between him and a ballon d'Or.
The midfielder endured 10 torturous years in north London where he made just 180 appearances during a spell that was plagued by injury.
The France international is back home playing for Marseille, but his fitness worries have not eased and he is currently sidelined with an ankle complaint which has kept him out since October.
Diaby has only managed two games this season in Ligue 1, and when asked about his problems the 30-year-old revealed he felt injury was the only thing preventing him from reaching the pinnacle of the game.