France icon Henry's finest hours

12 June 1998: France 3-0 South Africa, FIFA World Cup group stage
Less than a year after his international debut, Thierry Henry, then aged 20, announced himself on the biggest of stages. He struck the third goal in a convincing win at the Stade Vélodrome, dinking the ball over advancing keeper Hans Vonk following a trademark run through the South Africa back line. It was his first national-team goal and heralded two more in the next game against Saudi Arabia. Henry finished as France's top scorer at the tournament and also converted a vital penalty in the quarter-final shoot-out against Italy.

28 June 2000: France 2-1 Portugal (aet), UEFA European Championship semi-finals
Henry was instrumental in Les Bleus becoming European champions. He registered three goals in France's triumph in the Low Countries, the last of them the semi-final equaliser against Portugal, who had gone ahead through Nuno Gomes. Nicolas Anelka received Lilian Thuram's pass and found Henry close to the penalty spot, and the then 22-year-old turned and shot low into the net.

18 October 2005: AC Sparta Praha 0-2 Arsenal FC, UEFA Champions League group stage
Six years after his arrival in north London from Juventus, Henry became Arsenal's all-time leading marksman with two strikes in Prague. His first, a wonderful bending effort with the outside of his right boot from distance, saw him match Ian Wright's tally of 185 goals for the Gunners before his 74th-minute second moved the Frenchman clear.

Henry eventually netted 226 times for Arsenal between 1999 and 2007 before leaving for FC Barcelona, though he did return to London for a winter loan spell in 2012 from the New York Red Bulls and added two further goals to his haul. His statue at the Arsenal Stadium reminds fans of his contribution to past glories.

21 February 2006: Real Madrid CF 0-1 Arsenal FC, UEFA Champions League round of 16
Was this the most impressive goal of Henry's career? The last-16 first-leg encounter was decided by a moment of individual brilliance from the forward who collected a pass from Cesc Fàbregas and held off Madrid defenders before firing past Iker Casillas. Justly included in the poll for the top 60 goals in UEFA's history.

11 March 2009: FC Barcelona 5-2 Olympique Lyonnais, UEFA Champions League round of 16
A superb individual display from Henry helped Barcelona into the quarter-finals. Henry, who had worked with Lyon coach Claude Puel at AS Monaco FC, put the home team in front in the 25th minute and added another composed finish shortly after as the visitors were punished for lapses in concentration. Henry ended his second season at the Camp Nou as a UEFA Champions League winner.

14 October 2009: France 3-1 Austria, World Cup qualifier 
Henry claimed his 51st and last Les Bleus goal from the spot at the Stade de France. Henry is France's all-time leading scorer, ten clear of UEFA President Michel Platini and 17 ahead of former Monaco team-mate and fellow 1998 World Cup winner David Trezeguet.

5 October 2014: New York Red Bulls 1-0 Houston Dynamo, Major League Soccer
Henry swept in Lloyd Sam's deflected cross for the 350th club goal of his career. With only one shot on target that day, Henry proved at 37 that he had not lost any of his finishing prowess and that his experience was still precious in defining matches.

29 November 2014: New England Revolution 2-2 New York Red Bulls (New England win 4-3 on aggregate), Major League Soccer Eastern Conference final
A provider of 14 assists in the regular season – the joint-second highest total in the league – Henry set up five more goals in the play-offs. His last significant act in professional football came with the score goalless in Foxboro and his side trailing 2-1 on aggregate. Receiving possession just outside the area, Henry took one touch before lofting a measured pass over the New England rearguard into the path of Tim Cahill, who poked in the opening salvo of a thrilling game.