Thierry Henry was somewhat predestined for this glorious status. The AS Monaco prodigy was 20 years old when he finished top scorer for the French team (3 goals, all in the first round) during the coronation at the 98 World Cup. He was then phenomenal at Euro 2000, for a victory on the golden goal of his friend David Trezeguet, before being the essential striker of the Blues for a decade. Even if he was much more exceptional with Arsenal…
It was on October 17, in 2007, that “TH14” (number 12 in the selection) became top scorer for the France team. Raymond Domenech's team, without Zinédine Zidane who retired in 2006, beat Lithuania at the end of the match at Beaujoire, in the Euro 2008 qualifiers (2-0). Henry opened the scoring with a cross from Hatem Ben Arfa, although this goal should have been awarded to Franck Ribéry, who touched the Gunner's shot.
Full of rage in his celebration, “Titi” Henry then officially overtook Michel Platini with his 42nd French achievement and, in the process, he escaped on an opening from JĂ©rĂ©my Toulalan to score a double. The triple Ballon d'Or “Platoche” surpassed Just Fontaine in June 1984 by scoring his 31st goal against Yugoslavia.
Thierry Henry now 3rd
Thierry Henry then scored eight other goals for the French team, his 51st and last pawn dating back to October 14, 2009 at the Stade de France, against Austria, in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. A month before his hand against Ireland which allowed William Gallas to qualify the Blues in the return play-off (still in Saint-Denis).
Since then, Olivier Giroud has obviously become the top scorer for the selection, during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (before stopping at 57 units). Kylian Mbappé (53) even relegated Henry to third place and should quickly recover this glorious label of top scorer in the history of the France team.
