Thierry Henry Honoured with Prestigious BBC Lifetime Achievement Award

Arsenal Legend Receives Prestigious Recognition

Thierry Henry will take his place among the most revered figures in global sport later this month when he is presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony. The French striker, widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s greatest ever players, joins an illustrious list of recipients that includes sporting icons such as Pelé, Sir Bobby Charlton, and Sir David Beckham.

A Career Defined by Excellence

Henry scored 228 goals in 377 matches for Arsenal across his two spells with the Gunners, eclipsing Ian Wright to become the club’s record goalscorer in 2005. He won three FA Cups and two Premier League titles during his time in England – including the 2003-04 season when Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ remained unbeaten throughout the Premier League campaign. His individual accolades are equally impressive, with four Premier League Golden Boot awards to his name.

Beyond his club success, Henry was also a central figure in France’s golden generation, lifting the World Cup on home soil in 1998 and adding the European Championship two years later. With 51 goals in 123 international appearances, he stood as France’s record scorer until Olivier Giroud moved past him in 2022.

Life Beyond Playing

Since retiring in 2014, Henry has maintained his influence on football through coaching and punditry. In 2023, Henry was appointed head coach of France’s Under-21s and later led the national Olympic side at the Paris Games in 2024. France reached the final and claimed silver, falling to Spain in the summit clash. Additionally, Henry recently joined FOX Sports’ broadcast team as a lead analyst for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Significance for Football Fans

Responding to the honour, Henry said: “Football has given me everything and I gave it my all. To be recognised as part of its history with this Lifetime Achievement award and to have made my mark for the fans and my teammates is something I’ll never take for granted.” The award celebrates not only his remarkable statistics but also his lasting impact on how modern football is played and appreciated worldwide.