Thierry Henry is still the best of all

In a distant interview from 2003, after one of those unforgettable matches with the Arsenal jersey, Thierry Henry was identified as the prototype of the striker of the future. Speaking to The Guardian, he said: "I am not just a scorer. Sometimes I am included in the same category as Owen or Van Nistelrooy, but I am not that type of player." Today, twelve years after retiring from football, that distant statement takes on a new meaning. Thierry Henry is no longer just talked about for his goals, his movements or his celebrations, but for everything that constantly happens around him. Former Arsenal and Barcelona legend, coach of the French National Team, investor in Como, and now a well-known CBS commentator, in 2025 we have discovered other facets of Titì off the field and have come to one, inevitable conclusion: Thierry Henry is perfect wherever he is placed.

The apotheosis of this theory was confirmed when Panamanian national team striker Cecilio Waterman, after scoring the winning goal to send the Canaleros to the final of the Nations League for the first time, ran to hug Titì who was commentating on the match on the sidelines. It was a scene that no one had prepared for, because obviously no one expected it. The CBS crew, as soon as they saw the players of the Panamanian National Team approaching, hurriedly tried to move all the complex and fragile equipment - cameras, cables - to keep them safe from the iron cleats. At the end of the game, a surprised Henry commented: "It was incredible, honestly I was shocked: I never would have thought I would be part of such a celebration, without scoring a goal or even being on the field." It was a unique moment in the history of football, not only because of the type of celebration - rarely seen on a playing field until now - but above all because, unintentionally, Cecilio Waterman made us understand how a former footballer like Henry is still relevant today, and much more than just an inspiration.

The first words Waterman said to the French champion were: "Tú eres mi ídolo", a phrase that perhaps reminds us of Thierry Henry's best quality: that of a catalyst. Just look at the attitude of the players in interviews with CBS microphones. Lewandowski was one of the first to declare himself a fan of the striker, saying he approaches interviews differently when he is with him. Olise, Raphinha and Lukaku (during his time at Inter) are other tangible demonstrations. Despite Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher, it is Thierry Henry's charm that wins everyone over and makes post-match interviews with the American broadcaster so special. But beware: Henry is not the type of person who is liked by everyone and he is disliked by many, even his imperfections seem to be too perfect. A few weeks ago, when asked about a possible final between Arsenal and Barcelona, the former number 14 knew how to respond with elegance, recalling the final lost 40 km from home, with a calm and serenity to be envied. Even when he is not perfect, the way he recognizes and declares it makes Thierry Henry, in our eyes, even more perfect.

Part of the credit, probably, also goes to presenter Kate Scott, who in her famous intros has now learned to exalt the figure of Henry, belittling - or almost - that of the other colleagues in the studio, comparing them with titles won, trophies and every type of possible mockery. And it is precisely in this continuous balance between myth and man, between image and substance, that Thierry Henry continues to rewrite the rules of his role - whatever it may be. Over the years, he has become a cultural, sporting and emotional reference point for a generation of players and fans who grew up watching him dance on the field. His intense gaze, his elegant posture even in a suit and tie, the apparent calm that still hides the competitive flame of someone who has experienced football at the highest level, and that fake smile he gave at Como's stadium with Terry Crews make him a magnetic figure.

Henry is a catalyst, yes, but not in the passive sense of the term. He is a transformation agent, someone who, even just with his presence, is able to give meaning and direction to the context in which he finds himself. Football, television, modern sports narration: all seem to reorganize themselves around him, as if his figure were necessary to give depth, value, weight. In a football world increasingly saturated with content and characters, Thierry Henry continues to emerge for his uniqueness, not by spouting easy words to be picked up on social media. He doesn't shout, he doesn't force, he doesn't chase attention: he attracts it naturally. But above all, he doesn't want to explain football to us, he's not obsessed with tactics and he doesn't ask banal questions. Like he used to do, starting from the left, stretching his stride and leaving everyone behind, today he does it with a joke, with a lucid reflection, with an approving look that is worth more than a thousand words. And perhaps, in the end, that's the secret: Thierry Henry is not just a legend who has adapted to the present. He is a commentator who has been able to transform his legend into an essential presence.