Thierry Henry receives UEFA President's Award

Former French international Thierry Henry has won the 2026 UEFA President's Award.

Henry helped redefine what a modern striker could be: not just a poacher, but a pacey, creative playmaker who could score and create goals almost effortlessly. Arsenal's greatest goalscorer and the architect of the 'Invincibles', he won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona and both a EURO and a World Cup with France, scoring 411 goals for club and country.

Off the pitch, he has become one of the most respected voices in the game. He breaks matches down with a depth and precision that makes him sound less like a former player than a philosopher of the sport, and his honesty resonates with fans, coaches and colleagues past and present alike.

"Pace, grace, skill and ice-cold finishing made Henry a striker for the ages - and a man still writing his story within the sport as a world-class pundit," said UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin. "He has never hesitated to raise his voice on the issues that matter: relentlessly vocal about discrimination, racism and mental health, and just as generous with his time, supporting numerous humanitarian causes both during and after his football career. His passion and the work he did off the pitch showed that the 'ice in his veins' was never the whole story – underneath it all there is a warm, deeply caring heart."

Since 1998, UEFA's annual President's Award has acknowledged outstanding achievements that transcend the sport. At the start of each new European season, the UEFA president recognises professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities, on and off the field.

The list of UEFA President's Award winners is available here.