Thierry Henry didn’t hesitate when naming the team that will win Champions League this year

In 2005/06, he was part of the Arsenal team that lost 2-1 in the Champions League final to Barcelona in his homeland, France.

Ironically, he later won the competition with Barcelona in 2008/09, when Henry, Lionel Messi, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta delivered a masterful performance in a 2-0 victory against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in Rome, Italy.

Since then, Real Madrid has dominated the tournament, winning six of the last ten editions. Despite Los Blancos being the current champions, Henry believes another team will challenge them for this year’s title.

The Frenchman highlighted how Barcelona must be “considered as one of the favorites” to win the competition.

“Yes, I do think that this team right now, because of the two years that they had playing together and going through a difficult season last year, that’s when you learn the most about your character and what you’re about to do and how you’re going to perform,” Henry said when speaking on CBS back in November 2024.

During the 2023/24 season, Barca exited the competition at the quarter-finals stage after losing 6-4 on aggregate against PSG despite coming into the second leg with a one-goal advantage after they won 3-2 in Paris.

“I think this team right now, has to be considered as one of the favourites to win it (Champions League),” he added.

“Are they going to win it? You need to, along the way, lose a semi-final, to lose a quarter-final, to know how hard it is to go out. But I do think that they are equipped to go all the way.”

Hansi Flick’s side have already qualified for the last 16 of the competition this season having finished second in the 36-team group phase with six wins, one draw and one defeat from their eight games.

The La Liga team will play PSG, Brest, Monaco or Benfica in the next round.