Arsenal legend Thierry Henry opens up on mental health struggles in emotional interview

Legendary Arsenal striker Theirry Henry has opened up on the mental health battles he faced during his illustrious career — believing he was depressed throughout.

The 46-year-old, who is widely viewed as one of the finest players to ever grace the Premier League, enjoyed a glittering career with Juventus, Arsenal and Barcelona after graduating from AS Monaco's academy. During his playing days, the Frenchman won the Premier League twice as well as the Champions League and World Cup.

Speaking on theDiary of a CEO Podcast, Henry, who is the Gunners' all-time top-scorer with 228 strikes to his name, opened up on the challenges he's faced with his mental health and admitted he suffered a breakdown during the Covid pandemic in 2020.

“Throughout my career, and since I was born, I must have been in depression," said Henry. «Did I know it? No. Did I do something about it? No. But I adapted to a certain way. That doesn’t mean I’m walking straight, but I’m walking. You’ve got to put one foot [forward] and another one, and walk. That’s what I’ve been told since I was young.

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“I never stopped walking, then maybe I would have realised. [But during] Covid I stopped walking. I couldn’t. Then you start to realise.”

At the height of the pandemic, Henry was isolating thousands of miles away from his family after taking up a managerial role at Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact and admits that it was only when football was halted across the world that he suffered more than ever.

»I was in isolation in Montreal, and not being able to see my kids for a year