Thierry Henry's tale of two countries

In this Saturday, August 25, 2001 file photo Arsenal's Thierry Henry, left, fends off a challenge from an unidentified Leicester City player during their FA Premiership soccer match. Photo / AP

Thierry Henry won the World Cup with France but his legend will always be linked to Arsenal and a stellar career in the English Premier League.

Henry, who announced his retirement on Tuesday at the age of 37, leaves the football stage with a string of accolades.

On top of his 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship titles, Henry scored 51 goals in 123 appearances for France, more than a certain Michel Platini, won the Champions League with Barcelona and been hailed as one of the greatest players of his generation.

But it is a statue outside the Emirates Stadium in London that left Henry fighting back tears.

The 228 goals that he scored in seven years at Arsenal - out of 411 in his career - made him the stuff of legend.

"I know some of the press used to kill me for not showing emotion - well, there you go, I am showing emotion for the club I love," he said at an emotional ceremony to unveil the statue in 2011.

"Whatever I do, I do it with my heart, that is the way I am."

Henry was a pivotal member of Arsenal's "Invincibles", winning the Premier League twice and FA Cup three times.

Henry repeatedly talks of his "love" for Arsenal and its fans. But the team's failure to even get close to winning the Champions League convinced him in 2007 that a move to Barcelona was needed.

He was right - they won the trophy in 2009.

Despite his international fame, Henry has never been understood, nor fully appreciated, in his home country.

Henry, whose parents come from Guadeloupe and Martinique, started his career at Monaco, moved briefly to Juventus and joined Arsenal for £11 million (A$20 million) in August 1999.

The lack of emotion probably did not play in Henry's favour in France. The fans are very demanding.

Henry also had to live in the shadow of Zinedine Zidane, who was twice voted world player of the year - a title his teammate never won.

Henry remains one of the most elegant strikers of his time, who would appear from nowhere with a shot that many top class goalkeepers could not control.

"He is one of the world's best goalscorers. He is so smart in front of goal," commented Germany's World Cup legend Franz Beckenbauer.

"The best thing to do with Thierry Henry is to watch him play, not to talk about him," Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger once said of his former linchpin player.

Henry will now extend his career as a football pundit in England, where he will always be a symbol without equal.

A return to Arsenal in some kind of managerial role is almost certain.

-AAP