Former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry is set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony.
According to BBC Sport, the 48-year-old, who retired from professional football in 2014, will be honoured during Thursday’s ceremony, which will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 19:00 GMT.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Premier League history, Henry is also considered one of Arsenal’s all-time legends. Over two spells with the north London club, he scored 228 goals in 377 appearances, becoming the club’s record goalscorer in 2005 after surpassing Ian Wright.
During his time at Arsenal, Henry won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups. He was a key figure in the club’s historic 2003–04 “Invincibles” season, when Arsenal went unbeaten throughout the entire league campaign.
On an individual level, Henry enjoyed remarkable success. He won the Premier League Golden Boot four times, a record he shares with Alan Shearer, and was named in the PFA Team of the Year for six consecutive seasons, highlighting his dominance during his peak years.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Henry said football had given him everything and described the award as a moment he would always treasure. He added that being recognised for his contribution to the game and the impact he had on fans and team-mates meant a great deal to him.
“Football has given me everything, and I gave it my all. 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,” he said.
Henry also enjoyed an outstanding international career with France, winning the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, further cementing his status among football’s greatest players.
The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates Henry’s enduring influence on the sport, marking a career defined by goals, trophies, and a lasting legacy at both club and international level.
