You prefer him or you think that he was better? I prefer Henry but I think that Robben was better.
Who is the better player: Mbappe or Henry?
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You prefer him or you think that he was better? I prefer Henry but I think that Robben was better.
Well I think Henry is better but I'm bias as feck. Loved Thiery Henry for some reason. Both have won World Cups with France and Henry has Euro Cup as well.
At the end Mbappe will probably be more decorated and score more goals but when it comes to class and finesse Henry will be above.
This thread makes me so sad as I was hoping Martial will be our Henry but that did not happen.
At the end Mbappe will probably be more decorated and score more goals but when it comes to class and finesse Henry will be above.
This thread makes me so sad as I was hoping Martial will be our Henry but that did not happen.
Alright lads, he scored 2 goals against a poor Poland. Relax will ye 
i was a die hard Henry fan (actually thought he was just behind R9 and better than the likes of Etoo, Sheva or Raul) but I really think Mbappe is better and has the potential to be up there with R9.
Henry had probably as much pace as Mbappe but Mbappé is so much more explosive (in the same way as R9 was)
exactly
English fans in particular are so unbearable about that, even more so when you consider that many of their biggest stars came or come from this "farmer league" like they like to call it.
well and what if he never won it with Real or Liverpool? You seriously think that winning 2/3 PL/Ligas will add much more to his legacy at world stage?
Winning CL is so hard that even with the greatest team around, it's hard to win it (look at Zlatan or R9)
Henry had probably as much pace as Mbappe but Mbappé is so much more explosive (in the same way as R9 was)
exactly
English fans in particular are so unbearable about that, even more so when you consider that many of their biggest stars came or come from this "farmer league" like they like to call it.
well and what if he never won it with Real or Liverpool? You seriously think that winning 2/3 PL/Ligas will add much more to his legacy at world stage?
Winning CL is so hard that even with the greatest team around, it's hard to win it (look at Zlatan or R9)
Mbappe still suffers from the kick and run syndrome on occasion.
Henry was more technically refined and less prone to those clumsy losses. Even though he was fast himself he could slow the game down and make defenders look silly. I don't get the same feeling with Mbappe.
Even if the numbers and stats are in Mbappe's favor the eye test will always remain king.
Henry was more technically refined and less prone to those clumsy losses. Even though he was fast himself he could slow the game down and make defenders look silly. I don't get the same feeling with Mbappe.
Even if the numbers and stats are in Mbappe's favor the eye test will always remain king.
He was a better footballer.
yeah and actually i'm not even sure Mbappé's ratio is better in L1 than in CL which would contradict a little bit the argument used by many English fans in order to say that it's very easy to score in L1 (ask messi btw on how easy it is to score in this league).
If Mbappe continues to dominate and has the platform to continue deciding on the biggest stage, he will likely go down as a top 5-20 player of all time. Right now he's on the same trajectory as Eusebio for me.
That said I don't fully agree that Henry's big-game record marks him down in this comparison. After all, if you wanted to be an arse you could say that Mbappe had a terrible Euros last year and spurned chances in the biggest club game of his career as PSG lost to Bayern in the CL final. I don't buy that line of thinking either as he's done plenty against top opposition to make it a moot point. But we need a more nuanced assessment of Henry's performances against the best teams.
In his defence:
There is a case for the prosecution - he could not inspire an ageing France in World Cup 2002 or Euro 2004, and his domestic cup final record was a bit underwhelming, with no goals in 3 FA Cup finals.
It's worth highlighting just how reliant Arsenal were on him to produce magic. In 2002-03, he scored or assisted 10 of Arsenal's 15 goals in the Champions League; in 2003-04 it was 12 out of 16; in 2004-05 it was 5 out of 13; and in 2005-06 it was 7 out of 11. Over that four-year period in the Champions League he scored or assisted 62% of the goals Arsenal scored while he was on the park (fwiw Mbappe's CL average is 50%).
Class performance that - it was the one game of the entire tournament that Zidane didn't dominate and France needed him to step up.
That said I don't fully agree that Henry's big-game record marks him down in this comparison. After all, if you wanted to be an arse you could say that Mbappe had a terrible Euros last year and spurned chances in the biggest club game of his career as PSG lost to Bayern in the CL final. I don't buy that line of thinking either as he's done plenty against top opposition to make it a moot point. But we need a more nuanced assessment of Henry's performances against the best teams.
In his defence:
- 97/98 Champions League - Henry scores 7 in 9 games, including in the semi-final against Juventus.
- 99/00 UEFA Cup run - Henry scores 7 in 7, including 3 against Spanish champions Deportivo.
- Euro 2000 - in the team of the tournament, with a tremendous performance in the final against one of the greatest international defences of all time
- Big performances in the Champions League - goal and assist home to Bayern (the best team in Europe that year) and goal against Valencia in the quarters (best defence in Europe) in 00/01, hat-trick away to Roma in 02, 2 goals and 2 assists in the 5-1 demolition of Inter in the San Siro in 03/04, that solo goal away to Real Madrid and a goal and assist in 2-0 win against Juve in 05/06
- World Cup 2006 - in the team of the tournament
- Record against Chelsea - has 10 goals in 11 PL games
- Record against Man Utd - has 8 in 13 league games.
- Record against Liverpool - has 8 in 14 league games.
There is a case for the prosecution - he could not inspire an ageing France in World Cup 2002 or Euro 2004, and his domestic cup final record was a bit underwhelming, with no goals in 3 FA Cup finals.
It's worth highlighting just how reliant Arsenal were on him to produce magic. In 2002-03, he scored or assisted 10 of Arsenal's 15 goals in the Champions League; in 2003-04 it was 12 out of 16; in 2004-05 it was 5 out of 13; and in 2005-06 it was 7 out of 11. Over that four-year period in the Champions League he scored or assisted 62% of the goals Arsenal scored while he was on the park (fwiw Mbappe's CL average is 50%).
What the hell?
Class performance that - it was the one game of the entire tournament that Zidane didn't dominate and France needed him to step up.
Thierry Henry - Goals + Assists in Finals
1. 2000 UEFA Cup Final vs Galatasaray - 0
2. 2000 EURO Final vs Italy - 0
3. 2001 FA Cup Final vs Liverpool - 0
4. 2002 Community Shield vs Liverpool -0
5. 2002 FA Cup Final vs Chelsea - 0
6. 2003 Community Shied vs Man United - 1 Goal
7. 2003 FA Cup Final vs Southampton - 0
8. 2003 Confederations Cup Final vs Cameroon - 1 Goal
9. 2004 Community Shield vs Man United -0
10. 2005 Community Shield vs Chelsea - 0
11. 2006 Champions League Final vs Barcelona - 1 Assist
12. 2006 World Cup Final vs Italy - 0
13. 2009 Champions League Final vs Man United - 0
14. 2009 UEFA Super Cup vs Shakhtar Donetsk -0
15. 2009 Spanish Super Cup 1st Leg vs Athletic Bilbao - 0
16. 2009 Spanish Super Cup 2nd Leg vs Athletic Bilbao - 0
17. 2009 Club World Cup Final vs Estudiantes - 0
2 Goals + 1 Assist in 17 matches
The two goals were; a free-kick from a Tim Howard error, a fluke off his knee against a Cameroon side in mourning (player died in semi-final) in a competition that no longer exists.
1. 2000 UEFA Cup Final vs Galatasaray - 0
2. 2000 EURO Final vs Italy - 0
3. 2001 FA Cup Final vs Liverpool - 0
4. 2002 Community Shield vs Liverpool -0
5. 2002 FA Cup Final vs Chelsea - 0
6. 2003 Community Shied vs Man United - 1 Goal
7. 2003 FA Cup Final vs Southampton - 0
8. 2003 Confederations Cup Final vs Cameroon - 1 Goal
9. 2004 Community Shield vs Man United -0
10. 2005 Community Shield vs Chelsea - 0
11. 2006 Champions League Final vs Barcelona - 1 Assist
12. 2006 World Cup Final vs Italy - 0
13. 2009 Champions League Final vs Man United - 0
14. 2009 UEFA Super Cup vs Shakhtar Donetsk -0
15. 2009 Spanish Super Cup 1st Leg vs Athletic Bilbao - 0
16. 2009 Spanish Super Cup 2nd Leg vs Athletic Bilbao - 0
17. 2009 Club World Cup Final vs Estudiantes - 0
2 Goals + 1 Assist in 17 matches
The two goals were; a free-kick from a Tim Howard error, a fluke off his knee against a Cameroon side in mourning (player died in semi-final) in a competition that no longer exists.
Mbappe is a lot better imo and I dont even like the dude. England plz get red rid of him so Messi has it easier.
What the hell?
It was electrifying. I actually think Mbappe has benefited from the era where football has since evolved from Henry days and moved into more wing forward attacking system. Makes me wonder if young Henry was to play in this current era under wing forward system, his number would be far much better than Mbappe if Mbappe was playing back in Henry days instead.
People have the PL bias.
Mbappe is better respectively will easily be better than him in a couple of years. It wont even be a discussion in 5 years time.
Mbappe is better respectively will easily be better than him in a couple of years. It wont even be a discussion in 5 years time.
Jesus Christ this is a daft thread. It’s not even close. Mbappe has so much to do in order to get to Henry’s level.
Can’t we only judge their performances up until the age 23? Or are we assuming Mbappe has peaked?
I’m tall for nostalgia but Mbappe is already at the levels Henry reached and he’s just 23. How can you see his achievements in the Champions League and World Cups and not think that? Henry was spectacular, but at no point the best in the world. Mbappe is the best in the world atm and is getting better and better. He has that Ronaldo Messi gear to shift into and we are witnessing that transition right now.
Henry at barcelona made me rate him less.
After Mbappe scored his double against Denmark, a thread about Mbappe being the best French player ever was created. After scoring twice against Poland this thread was created. So to answer your question, it is about people's memory of Mbappe's latest games.
Mbappe is still very young, not even halfway through with his footballing career, his body of work which isn't even half completed isn't currently better than one of football greatest entire career, people have to calm down and stop kneejerking with every single game.
He was a shadow of his prime self with chronic back issues restricting both his availability and his mobility. Not to mention having to (gracefully) accommodate Messi.
As good as he is, he hasn't. In terms of talent, he IMO ranks fourth among him, Messi, Neymar and Ronaldo. Maybe on par with the latter. He's obviously much more driven and injury resistant than Neymar which means he's a better player over a season or longer but Mbappe regularly looks third best among the three superstars at PSG.
He does because of how they play him. They see the ball way more than he does, that’s part of his issues there. Put Mbappe on the left and he’ll destroy teams but for now he needs to play that role infront of Messi and Neymar.
Henry was fantastic. He's the better player but Mbappe will probably over take him...he'll need to move to the PL or La Liga to achieve that. But in terms of star power, Mbappe is in a different stratosphere.
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Yes, he's kept out of his favorite position by better players. Neymar and Messi are clearly better players in terms of chance creation, playing between the lines, ball retention, etc. - which are important attributes in his favorite position, less so as a striker. Mbappe's close control and vision can't compare to theirs.
And last year he was a lot better than both Messi and Neymar. He's had a poor start of the season by his own very high standards but it doesn't make much sense to cherry-pick those few months to rank them three.
Saying that I'd pick peak Neymar (and obviously peak Messi) before peak Mbappé anytime, but that's mostly for aesthetics. Neymar makes things no one else thinks of while Mbappé makes things people don't think possible, and I value the former more from an entertainment standpoint.
I don't know if that's fair. Mbappé is mainly the only one that can play in that striker role at a very high level out of the three and last season he outperformed both with extreme ease.
I rate Henry as a genuine peer to Dinho and Zidane, and I think Mbappé is that good right now. In 5 years time this thread will look like madness. Mbappé warps football games in a way I've only seen with Ronaldo and Messi. You can't play a high line against him. You can't leave him 1vs1. You can't give him a sliver of space within 20 yards of the goal. If you manage to keep him away from the box, you still have to deal with his dribbling and playmaking. He's special in a way Henry never was
Henry was never all of those things?
In that context, it’s about a player expected to be one of, if not the star of, the tournament performing exactly how he was expected to. Top billing and delivering is something many, many more touted to do the same throughout history absolutely wilted under, not least Henry himself, or, as another example, Ronaldinho in 2006. It isn’t something that can be brushed under the carpet as very few can cope under that intense a spotlight and those that can are rightly elevated for it. It won’t be prescient in the slightest to expect Mbappè to go through the entire tournament in the same, or better vein.
When people refer to ‘Henry’ it’s 8 years at Arsenal and tidbits elsewhere tagged on, and further that, it’s the 5-years at Arsenal where he went supersonic in the league and was being considered one of the best players in the world. There is context in everything.
The big competitions are the UCL and World Cup/Euros. Mbappe has already made more impact there then Henry ever did.
At this stage, I think that Mbappe is just below or tied with Henry as the third best French player ever. In a few years, he will be far ahead of Henry.
Henry isn't the third best player ever.
Whom would you have the best after Platini and Zidane?
Insightful post, as always.
He can’t play like Neymar and Messi though because both of them are far better playmakers.
It's generally one of Kopa, Fontaine, Papin or Deschamps. While Henry is in the next group with Giresse, Desailly, Trésor and a few others. Henry being third would be highly debatable and debated.
Not like this
All before of my time except Deschamps. Didn't know that he is considered better than Henry (I mean overall, not necessarily for the NT).
Henry carried Arsenal to the UCL final but then choked.
Im starting to think this recency bias is fecking up with some of you here.
He has generally been but before someone suggest otherwise, one can debate that Henry is third it wouldn't be a shocking claim but it's not that straightforward especially since Henry hasn't won much at least not based on his own performances or influence. Deschamps is arguably the most influential french player outside of Platini if you consider club and national team career, he was a great midfielder and leader.
A bit like Desailly or Trésor they are penalized due to their roles but even then they are generally at the top of the 3 to 10 position, Henry is in the same bracket but unlike the others he hasn't been as influential.
Is it fair to say that he carried them, for some reason I think that people are more and more downgrading that Arsenal generation. They had one of the best midfield combination that I have seen and one of the best defense around. That season they had a bunch of players in the form of their lives if I remember correctly, the likes of Fabregas, Hleb, Gilberto Silva and the defense were great. Henry was their talisman, their best player but I don't think that it's fair to say that Arsenal were carried by a single player.
Well, this is wrong question. We shouldn't compare 2-3 years of Mbappe to 12-15 years of Henry. It's too early. We should give more time to Mbappe and only then we can compare.