Thierry Henry, famed for his 377-outing stint at Arsenal, is one of the greatest strikers to ever grace the turf. He was lightning-quick, a sharp finisher and a brilliant link between midfield and attack – and the Frenchman once revealed who he believes is the greatest centre-forward of his generation.
A recognisable face by football fans all over the globe, Henry was a goal-getting sensation throughout his career – and he’s now spending his post-retirement life in the punditry sphere, often breaking down a striker’s ability and/or technique.
And among this generation’s plethora of potent line-leaders – think Karim Benzema, Sergio Aguero and Luis Suarez – Henry believes that one is superior to the rest. For reference: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were excluded from the debate.
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For a former player of Henry’s calibre and ilk, being a fantastic talisman is not only scoring bucketloads of goals – it’s also about longevity, how well they bring others into play and so on. And that’s why Robert Lewandowski was his choice.
“He’s the best striker of this generation,” Henry said, per beIN SPORTS, after the Pole’s Champions League brace for Barcelona against Borussia Dortmund in 2024/25. “What he’s done at Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and now at Barcelona is simply remarkable.”
Lewandowski, 36, rose through a couple of academy ranks in his homeland before being spotted by Dortmund in the summer of 2010. He served Die Schwarzgelben well, scoring 103 goals in 187 matches, before being lured to their rivals.
He became immortalised in a star-studded Bayern Munich side – but Henry is adamant that his success is not down to playing alongside the elite. Referencing Antoine Griezmann’s failed move to Barcelona, the Arsenal and France legend said:
“People say it’s easier when you’re surrounded by stars, but not everyone shines in those conditions. Antonie Griezmann went to Barcelona and struggled. It’s not that simple.”
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Despite being in the latter stages of his goal-laden career, Henry believes that he is showing no signs of slowing down. “If he stays, surrounded by young talents bringing energy and creativity, he can keep finishing plays. The numbers don’t lie,” he concluded.
Irrespective of his numbers in front of goal, it’s not too outlandish to suggest that Lewandowski does not get the recognition he deserves. The veteran was famously denied a Ballon d’Or in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic – remember?
For many strikers, the goals tend to dry up once they enter the latter stages – or the twilight period, shall we say – of their career, but that isn’t the case for the Pole. In 2024/25 alone, he plundered an eye-catching 42 strikes for Barcelona in all competitions.
Robert Lewandowski – Club Career Statistics
Club
Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund
Barcelona
Lech Poznan
Znicz Pruszkow
The respect between Lewandowski and Henry is mutual. Highlighting the ease with which he could score shedloads of goals, the former once called the latter his footballing idol. “My idol was Thierry Henry. He was amazing,” he began, per FourFourTwo.
“It wasn't just how he scored the goals but what he did for the team. When he was at Arsenal, I remember how easily he scored goals from different situations. He could score from the left side into the far corner with his right foot. It was so easy for him – I wanted to score a lot of goals too and I could learn from him.”
All statistics per Transfermarkt – correct as of 05/07/2025