Never been close for me. Mbappe has the determination, strength and elite mindset to match, if not a tad too selfish. But the finesse, creativity and overall technical ability Henry was on another level.
Who is the better player: Mbappe or Henry?
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Henry was a good player in a more lopsided EPL and amongst a top French squad in which others excelled. Without Zidane, France would often struggle and Henry rarely, if ever, provided. See 2002 for proof, if not cheating versus the might of Ireland.
Mbappe is the attacking focal point of the current French set-up and just as, if not more, successful.
Of course, KM is a modern player whereas TH belongs to 'my time', so the nostalgic buzz carries more impetus than it should, also.
Mbappe is the better player.
There is nothing nolstagic about it. I've watched Mbappe play quite a bit from when he was breaking onto the world stage at Monaco and that's my assessment of him as a player, not the teams he's played in or what they have won.
Also, Deschamps' France has been a counterattacking team that mainly uses the speed and power of their forwards to win. A limited set up that isn't very demanding technically on wide attackers, so it doesn't even support Mbappe's case if one tried to use it as indication that he's better.
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Reminded me of this thread. I wonder if Henry takes any pleasure in someone so often compared to him having the kind of run of form that puts a sizeable distance between them, for the time being at least.
Henry was getting better and better at Mbappe’s current age and maintained that until his back did him in.
It would be ironic if Mbappe moving to a big club in a big league is what kills this debate once and for all instead of it being what makes it never ending.
I picked Henry before and that won't change in the foreseeable future. Mbappe got more in common with Rashford now than Henry.
Henry is best. It’s really not that close. Remove speed and Mbappe becomes more worse.
Not a fan of Mbappe, but I'm really puzzled about what people expected from him exactly.
Is he really supposed to turn into world class 9 at will and then perform for a team in a huge mess like RM? Seems to me like there are tons of people who just hate the guy and now found the excuse to let it all out.
Is he really supposed to turn into world class 9 at will and then perform for a team in a huge mess like RM? Seems to me like there are tons of people who just hate the guy and now found the excuse to let it all out.
To be clear: Mbappé's best has already surpassed Henry's. The peak level he showed between 2018 and 2022 is above Henry's
That said, this is now a legitimate comparison, when it had no right to be, and it's all Mbappé's fault
I thought Mbappe raced ahead on age to respective age, but to say his best surpasses Henry in his prime… I don’t know about that. And if Mbappe was initially ahead in same age comparison through the first bloc, he’s miles behind currently in the second bloc - usually classed as age prime years - so it’s hard to say what is what, I think.Mbappé has a more impressive record and performances on the bigger stages - CL/WC - than Henry at any point of his career
Otherwise don't particularly disagree with what you are saying
Mbappe.
The nostalgia vote will be heavy for Henry, no doubt, but I'll avoid it.
Both cheats in their own way. Henry is better at schmoodling media.
The nostalgia vote will be heavy for Henry, no doubt, but I'll avoid it.
Both cheats in their own way. Henry is better at schmoodling media.
Henry led an Arsenal team to a CL final, while Neymar and Herrera performed better than Mbappe in the only deep run of his team. I ve seen Henry destroying big clubs like Inter, Liverpool, us etc which I have never seen Mbappe doing.
Undoubtedly, Mbappe is still an amazing player but he reminds more of Bale, without the powerful shots. When the speed and agility will be gone, he will struggle a lot. He has not really improved his game.
Its hard to imagine that his peak was already 6 years ago. He is still youngish, but it will be hard to adapt when you have spent 8 years already doing the same thing.
Undoubtedly, Mbappe is still an amazing player but he reminds more of Bale, without the powerful shots. When the speed and agility will be gone, he will struggle a lot. He has not really improved his game.
Its hard to imagine that his peak was already 6 years ago. He is still youngish, but it will be hard to adapt when you have spent 8 years already doing the same thing.
Obviously Mpabbe will score more goals than Henry's 410 and once he retires his numbers will be far far better than Henry's, but as pure footballers, Henry is at least few levels above Mbappe, in terms of technical ability and overall game, Henry could create chances for his teammates, although Henry was rapid, his close control and dribbling is what made him a menace in the PL.
Mbappe is totally different, he is pure forward focused on scoring goals, he doesn't do much else like Henry did.
Mbappe is totally different, he is pure forward focused on scoring goals, he doesn't do much else like Henry did.
Mbappé hasn't been better in big UCL games.
He had that hat-trick against Barcelona(that wasn't exactly in a great moment), the game against Bayern, in the next phase, and that game against Madrid, in which he was average until his great solo goal, almost at the end of the game. He was invisible against Madrid in 2018; had one of the most ridiculous performances from a world class player against United in 2019; was a third fiddle to Neymar and Di Maria in 2020; and was invisible again before Bayern in 2023. He scored two against Barcelona in the last one, but one was a given goal and the other was a penalty; his overall performance was quite disappointing that season.
Henry was every bit as good as Ronaldinho in UCL 2005-2006(including the final), and very often I see people saying that the latter dragged Barcelona to that title.
He had that hat-trick against Barcelona(that wasn't exactly in a great moment), the game against Bayern, in the next phase, and that game against Madrid, in which he was average until his great solo goal, almost at the end of the game. He was invisible against Madrid in 2018; had one of the most ridiculous performances from a world class player against United in 2019; was a third fiddle to Neymar and Di Maria in 2020; and was invisible again before Bayern in 2023. He scored two against Barcelona in the last one, but one was a given goal and the other was a penalty; his overall performance was quite disappointing that season.
Henry was every bit as good as Ronaldinho in UCL 2005-2006(including the final), and very often I see people saying that the latter dragged Barcelona to that title.
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he dominated that game fron start to finish, put at least 3 goals on a plate for Di Maria and Messi to miss, won a penalty, and when his teammates kept letting him down, at the end he went feck it, i'll do it myself, and did. Then spent an hour torturing Madrid at the Bernabeu in the second leg. The previous season he took PSG to the SF. The previous season he was key in turning the atalanta game after big performances in the R16 against BvB. In his first season, at Monaco, he dragged them to the SF and where he had the vaunted Juventus defence petrified of him
Are you sure about that? Might want to go back and check what you're saying
I watched that edition a few months ago.Are you sure about that? Might want to go back and check what you're saying
Henry against Madrid = Ronaldinho against Milan
Henry against Juventus = Ronaldinho against Chelsea(the Brazilian's game in Barcelona was the best, but Henry was better in the away game)
Henry against Villareal = Ronaldinho against Benfica(both good, but nothing special)
Both subpar in the final.
Henry absolutely destroyed him in his last analysis.
Seems such a silly comparison, it's currently not close and only getting further away.
in past I thought Henry was better, with very good chance of Mbappe becoming overall better player. but given the last 2 years it doesn't seem like it will be the case.
Mbappe still has the numbers, even now at Madrid, but almost every game you see him he plays like shit. forget prime Henry, Vini seems better as well.
Mbappe still has the numbers, even now at Madrid, but almost every game you see him he plays like shit. forget prime Henry, Vini seems better as well.
I had forgotten about the game in Madrid in 2022. I just watched his all touches and it was in fact a great performance. I think you're severely overrating his other games for PSG, especially his participations in 2020, though.
But I've backtracked a little on what I had said, mostly because his period at Monaco went unnoticed by me when I made that post. It's probably fair to say he already has more big performances.
Just finishing...
He was very involved in the game against Madrid, but also very erratic. Basically nothing he tried worked, except the penalty he received(which was very unnecessary)and the goal. I didn't see he putting any chance on a plate for anyone, and, differently from what you said, Messi and Veratti put him face to face with Courtois, but he failed on both occasions, firstly in his finish and then in his touch.
Those other two games are just decent performances, I'm sorry.
The idea that Mbappe is better after playing in a farmers league his whole life is laughable. Granted he has done well on the international stage but right now Henry is miles ahead.
It might easily change, but at the moment it’s Henry 10 out of 10 times on every level there is, far more intelligent player as well
Not sure why people are writing Mbappe off due to recent form, new league new team, let's see how he does after he adjusts.
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Henry miles better technically. Mbappe is a physical monster but Henry was at a different level.
Completely disagree. Better, perhaps, but miles better is a grotesque exaggeration.
Written by someone who's never seen peak Henry play.
People pointing to stats need to realize that the game had more defensive grit back then. The caliber of defenders Henry was up against is totally different class. Henry all day.
The level of international teams is waaaaay worse too, btw. Back when Henry played Holland had a ton of ballers, Italy were strong af, Brazil weren’t a shadow of themselves, Germany were on the rise rather than sinking… stats in a vacuum would tell you Mbappe, but it’s ridiculous to me to say he’s outdone Henry just because of some WC trophies and goals in important matches.
The level of international teams is waaaaay worse too, btw. Back when Henry played Holland had a ton of ballers, Italy were strong af, Brazil weren’t a shadow of themselves, Germany were on the rise rather than sinking… stats in a vacuum would tell you Mbappe, but it’s ridiculous to me to say he’s outdone Henry just because of some WC trophies and goals in important matches.
I hate Arsenal and I can’t stand their fans but Thierry Henry was outstanding and truly world class. Whilst Mbappe can technically walk into any team on earth, he’s not a slight on Henry. Henry was different gravy.
I think that’s mostly nostalgic nonsense. People love to claim that. But I think what really happened is that the way teams play has changed drastically and so have the skills we require from defenders. There’s nothing wrong with defenders today. They just play differently.
I would argue very differently. Teams are far more organised and fit today, you get less time on the ball and space, Individualism is harder today than back then.
As of right now it's easily Henry.
But Mbappe is still only 25, and spent his career thus far in a weaker league, so not having proven to be better than Henry already is hardly some glaring indictment.
But Mbappe is still only 25, and spent his career thus far in a weaker league, so not having proven to be better than Henry already is hardly some glaring indictment.
Yes, he was miles better. Maradona, Messi, Zico and Baggio are probably the only players I'd say were clearly better technically, overall. I can't name a single player that had a better first touch or shooting technique(I'm not saying that Henry was the absolute best at these things, but I can't think of anyone who was clearly above). His touch was basic immaculate. His ball placement was insanely good, as was his ability to shot from any angle, with an immense arsenal(no pun intended) of ways to hit the ball. He also had elite close control, although he lacked a bit of mobility to match up with the truly best dribblers. Some of the best playmakers had similar ball manipulation and better passing skills, but but paled in comparison when it came to shooting; furthermore, he was much more consistent than most "technicians".
Mbappé is not even that great technically. He has good technical ability combined with insane athleticism.
When Henry played, the Premier League was a farmers' league. He failed in Italy, and then went to Arsenal, in a worse league, where he thrived.
They have to play differently because the rules are different.
That’s also part of it.
Thierry Henry the best player ever in the Premier era. Mbappe has more pace, but overall Henry the better player.
Henry by a mile. Maybe not as explosively fast as Mbappe but better in every other department.
100%.
Whilst refereeing has favoured attackers more recently I do think you have down played tactics and athleticism which has made attacking more difficult in the modern game . I don't believe defences were better then, teams just defend just as well (or better) through better organisation and tactics now imo.
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