Legendary French striker Thierry Henry has been honoured with the UEFA President's Award. The presentation took place on Thursday at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco during the draw for the 2026/27 Champions League group stage.
The essence and significance of the UEFA president's award
Established in 1998, this award is not simply a version of the best player of the season accolade. It serves as a recognition of a lifetime of achievements and outstanding contributions to the sport, awarded for remarkable sporting success, professionalism, exemplary personal qualities on and off the pitch, as well as significant contributions to the development of football worldwide.
The award is presented at the sole discretion of the current head of UEFA, Aleksander Ceferin. Over the years, recipients have included legendary figures such as Sir Bobby Charlton, Paolo Maldini, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, Francesco Totti, David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Didier Drogba, Gianluigi Buffon, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Notably, in 2021, the award was given to Simon Kjaer and the medical team that saved Christian Eriksen's life.
The greatness of Henry's career
Henry's illustrious career has firmly secured his name among the pantheon of European football greatness. He is the all-time leading scorer for Arsenal, netting an impressive 228 goals, and is celebrated as the architect of the 'Invincibles' season. He is a two-time Premier League champion and a two-time winner of the European Golden Shoe.
On the international stage, Henry played a pivotal role in France's victories at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. Furthermore, in 2009, he achieved legendary status at Barcelona by securing a historic treble that included the Champions League title. Across his career, he has scored a remarkable 50 goals in Europe's premier club competition while representing Monaco, Arsenal, and Barcelona.
Following his playing days, Henry went on to have stints in MLS, managed Monaco and Montreal, and led the French Olympic team to a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Games. Additionally, he has become a leading football pundit on global television. In December 2025, he was also awarded a special BBC Sports Personality award for his lifetime achievements.
Emotions and memories of the Champions League
Upon receiving the award, Henry expressed his gratitude to the organisation and reflected on significant moments from his career:
“First of all, I want to thank the president for thinking of me. Receiving this trophy where it all started feels like coming full circle.”
“The first Champions League final with Arsenal? Pain... That memory always haunts me because I couldn't gift the trophy to the Gunners' supporters. But such is life: you fall, rise, and attack that summit again, which is precisely what happened in 2009 when we won absolutely everything with Barcelona.”
