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France great Henry admits to depression battle

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epa11013509 French former soccer player Thierry Henry during the English Premier League match between Luton Town and Arsenal in Luton, Britain, 05 December 2023. EPA/VINCE MIGNOTT EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos, 'live' services or NFTs. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

Former France and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry was among the most skilful players of his generation and a delight to watch, bringing joy to hundreds of millions of fans, but he has now admitted he battled depression throughout his career.

Henry, 46, won the World Cup with France in 1998 and enjoyed huge success in club football at Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona and New York Red Bulls.
But he was fighting a secret battle behind that broad smile, which he has now revealed.

“Throughout my career, and since I was born, I must have been in depression,” Henry told The Diary Of A CEO podcast.

“Did I know it? No. Did I do something about it? No. But I adapted to a certain way.”

Henry struggled most during the COVID-19 pandemic when he was coach at Montreal Impact and away from his family.

“I was in isolation in Montreal, and not being able to see my kids for a year was tough,” he added. “Tears were coming alone. Why I don’t know, but maybe they were there for a very long time.”

Mental health has been in the spotlight in sports in recent years with more and more players across codes admitting to their struggles, something that would have been unthinkable in years gone by.