Henry was left deeply impressed by a particular moment. “I remember saying, ‘This guy is too good. He is on a different level’,” the former Arsenal player tells SPORTbible. “For him to think about that in a game of that magnitude is something else.”
Over seven months after witnessing Lamine Yamal’s performance at Euro 2024, Henry – regarded as one of the Premier League’s all-time greats – still marvels at the events that transpired during the semi-final between France and Spain on July 9.
Yamal made history for several reasons last summer. He became the youngest player to feature in the final stages of a World Cup or European Championship, breaking Pele’s 1958 record, and was the first to score or assist in the quarter-final, semi-final, and final.
No player had a greater impact at Euro 2024 than the teenager, who recorded one goal and four assists.
For Henry, however, an often-overlooked sequence of play during Spain’s 2-1 victory over France in the semi-final stood out.
Speaking to SPORTbible as part of the ‘No Lay’s, No Game’ campaign, Henry was asked if there is a player in world football he enjoys watching the most.
“Lamine Yamal. I’ll tell you why. And it’s not because of what you think I’m going to say,” he began.
“It’s his maturity. I’ll explain. I have it clear in my head. Spain go 2-1 up against France at Euro 2024 in the semi-final. Unai Simon throws the ball to him and he controls it with the outside of his foot. He looks up and can go one-vs-one against [Theo] Hernandez.
“At that moment, you’re young. You’ve scored a goal. Who would have said anything if he took the ball and played the one-vs-one? It was minute 60-something. He touched the ball with the outside-of-his-foot, put it down, passed it back and said to everyone, ‘Calm down’.
“I said, ‘You’re doing that at your age already and it’s a wrap’. Think about it. That moment. In the semi-final, when you’ve scored a goal like that. You get carried away. Nobody would have said anything. He could have taken it one-on-one but he took the ball and passed it back.
“Honestly. I remember saying, ‘This guy is too good. He is on a different level.’ Please understand the level I’m talking about. Stepovers, nutmegs – yes he does that all the time. But for him to think about that in a game of that magnitude is something else.”
Considering his age, many see Yamal as a unique talent. Henry highlights his maturity in high-pressure situations, but it’s Yamal’s ability to surprise and exhibit rare instincts in the modern game that truly stands out.
For instance, in the match against France, instead of opting for a ‘safe’ pass, he unleashed a stunning 25-yard strike into the top corner, later named the tournament’s goal.
When reflecting on what he misses most from his football era, Henry mentioned a type of player that the contemporary game often lacks.
“To watch, I miss instinct players. The game is so structured and scripted, which I’m not saying is wrong or right, I just miss the guy who is going to shoot from 40 yards or would try and dribble past everyone,” he said.
“Now, more often than not, a manager will be like, ‘Don’t lose it!’. I was a striker and I liked to dribble. You have some players, don’t get me wrong, but I miss players who take the ball and make me sit on the edge of my seat.”
