FORMER Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award at BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025.
The 48-year-old, widely considered to be one of the Premier League’s greatest players, retired in 2014.
He was presented with the award by his four children – Tea, Tristan, Tatiana and Gabi – at the show on Thursday.
“Football has given me everything and I gave it my all,” said Henry.
“To be recognised as part of its history with this Lifetime Achievement award and to have made my mark for the fans and my team-mates is something I’ll never take for granted.”
Henry scored 228 goals in 377 matches for Arsenal across his two spells with the Gunners, eclipsing Ian Wright to become the club’s record goalscorer in 2005.
He won three FA Cups and two Premier League titles during his time in England – including the 2003-04 season when Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ remained unbeaten throughout the Premier League campaign.
The striker won the Premier League Golden Boot a record-equalling four times and was named in the PFA Team of the Year six seasons in a row.
He holds the joint-record with Kevin de Bruyne for the most assists (20) in a single Premier League season.
Henry dedicated his Lifetime Achievement award to his children, saying: “This is your award, not mine.
“You are educating me. You are saving me from my traumas and showing me what it is to be human, vulnerable and have empathy. So please bear with me, and thank you for being you.”
In 2024, the award was given to British cycling great Sir Mark Cavendish.
Other previous winners of the award include Billie Jean King, Pele, Sir Bobby Charlton, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Sir David Beckham, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and Sir Chris Hoy.
All the Sports Personality 2025 winners.