GOAL sat down with the legendary French striker to discuss the battle for the Champions League, courtesy of the new 'No Lay's, No Game' campaign
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There is an X-factor about Thierry Henry that has followed him from his retirement as a leading striker into his post-playing days. He was the coolest guy in football with the ball at his feet, and that remains the case on this side of the chalked lines, an instantly recognisable and unifying figure.
When he talks, you listen. That aura is unmistakable, undeniable. The ordinary mind doesn't understand football the way that Henry and his peers do.
In addition to punditry and coaching, Henry is an ambassador for UEFA Champions League snack partner Lay's, who recently launched a new campaign, , featuring the Frenchman alongside current Barcelona and Spain star Alexia Putellas. The premise – the 'Lay's Crawl' – is the two walk into a bar on a Champions League night, and if it offers Lay's, then they will stay. If not, those in the bar miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime chance to watch the game with two legends. Over in Miami, fellow Barca alumni Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have been venturing on their own leg of the campaign.
GOAL had the chance to speak to Henry to talk this season's Champions League, his former club's chances and more.
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty ImagesNo comparisons between Messi & Yamal
Henry was a Champions League winner with Barcelona back in 2009, beating Manchester United 2-0 in a memorable final in Rome. That night, a teenage Messi leapt forward with an uncharacteristic header to not only seal victory, but announce himself as a real contender for GOAT status.
If Barca are to be successful this year and claim a sixth European crown, then another left-footed teenager, Lamine Yamal, will be crucial to their hopes. Given their similar playing styles and positions, Yamal has often been compared to Messi, but Henry was very keen to play down comparisons between the club's heroes of past and present.
"I don't like comparisons!" Henry says when quizzed on the duo. "I don't like when people compare eras or players. Leo is Leo, and Lamine Yamal…"
Henry pauses, carefully choosing his words and sentiment. "He isn't even trying to be Lamine Yamal – he is already Lamine Yamal," he finally deduces with a mischievous smile and nod of the head.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'He understands the game'
Henry could have stopped right there, but he instead wanted to dive into why he is in so much awe over Yamal, who doesn't turn 18 until July. And it wasn't necessarily the numbers he's put up this season (11 goals and 17 assists in all competitions to be precise, but who's keeping count?).
"What impresses me apart from the goals and the skills and the step-overs is how mature he is," Henry continues. "The way he plays the game…the game against France with Spain (at Euro 2024), he had the ball at one point, they were 2-1 up and on the counter, one-v-one with Theo Hernandez. He can go. But he stopped the ball, he passed it back to Dani Carvajal and he said to everyone to calm down. With his hands, he went calm down. And I was like, 'wow, at this age you already know what you need to do'. If he tried to take the ball and play one-v-one nobody would’ve said anything, it’s normal. But he understood in that moment 'I can't lose that ball, France are trying to come back, so let's keep it'.
"That's why I think he's special for me because he understands the game already, how to control the rhythm and tempo of the game. When you're young, you just take the ball and do you, yet he has that already in his locker. So well done."
Getty Images SportHow Arsenal can win the Champions League
Discussion turns to another of Henry's former clubs in Arsenal, who have not gone any closer to winning their first-ever Champions League since he spearheaded their run to the final back in 2006, losing to Barcelona late on having played nearly the entire game with 10 men. Right now, the European Cup appears to be the Gunners' best hope of silverware this season.
"It's been the story of the club," Henry says of their failure to become kings of the continent. "We haven't won it, even me as a player (for Arsenal). We went to the final and we know what happened in the final. It never happened.
"It's not easy – it took Manchester City a long time to win it. You need everybody to be fit, you need everybody to play game on day, home and away. You need to have final where everything goes your way. You need a bit of luck, and you need a lot of stuff. It's not an easy one to win. When you look at who's won it recently, the same name comes around, unfortunately for the other teams."
Mikel Arteta's side have been dogged by an injury crisis all throughout 2024-25, so they may perhaps need a bit more of the luck part in lieu of fitness if they are to finally lift the Champions League. But they face stiff competition for the trophy.
Getty ImagesThis season's contenders
The first year of the Champions League's new format has sprung up some surprises already, with 2023 winners City already out before the last-16 stage. So who does Henry think can go all the way?
"It's open," he insists. "Apart from Liverpool you will say, who you can say have been consistent in the league and Champions League, you can see how they might be successful. And still you don't know!
"There are teams who are up-and down. Barca, very successful in the Champions League but up-and-down in the league. (Real) Madrid didn’t start well, they went into the play-off against City. But you know, Inter, Bayern, Liverpool, we’re gonna name the usual suspects. The team who has been most consistent is Liverpool, if you take away the FA Cup. They have been consistent in every competition. We will see what's going to happen."