La Desirade island, dependency of Guadeloupe, was the first place Christopher Columbus landed on his second voyage to the Americas, in 1493. Columbus named the island Deseada, meaning desired land, because they complained not to have seen land since their departure from the Canary Islands.
It was on that island of long white beaches, that, in 1798, one of its most famous sons was born: Tybalt Rosembraise.
Son of a French revolution fugitive and an African slave woman, Tybalt was an adventurer who crossed his era as dilettantist : a revolutionary in Argentina, a peasant on the Pampa, a dandy in Paris, a pirate on the Mediterranean Sea, a fisherman in Siberia, a smuggler in China, he led a life free of thought and action before disappearing in France in 1839...
A prince in Monaco, a king in London
Almost two hundred-years later, a man named Antoine, from La Desirade island, got married with Marise who was also Antillean. The couple moved to France, and on 17 August, 1977 their son was born in Les Ulis, Paris. That boy would carry with him, in his heart, La Desirade throughout the four corners of the globe, as Tybalt Rosembraise did, but as the kid in the playground who was better than everyone else with a football at his feet.
Henry with team-mate and friend David Trezeguet at Monaco. One of the most lethal pairings in football.
Having emerged from the Monaco youth ranks under the guidance of manager Arsene Wenger, his mentor, Henry moved on to Italy, but failed to adapt with Juventus, being largely used as a winger under Carlo Ancelotti.
Wenger continued monitoring his situation and opted to part with £10.5 million to link up once again with the man he eventually transformed into Europe's most feared striker.
It was at Arsenal under Wenger that the Frenchman went from winger to outright striker and lit up the Premier League with his incredible pace and goals alongside stars Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp.
But after a long and drawn out transfer saga in the summer of 2007, Henry eventually moved to Barcelona, where he would finally capture the Champions League trophy when playing a prominent role in Barca's remarkable Treble-winning campaign of 2008-09.
However, the following year saw Henry left out of the side and he embarked on a new challenge in Major League Soccer, joining the New York Red Bulls, a few weeks after France's dismal World Cup campaign.
The French glory
Henry and Wenger, firstly at Mónaco, later in Highbury and at the Emirates, a memorable partnership.
He earned the first of his 123 caps in June 1997, being called-up to the Under-20 French national team. He also played in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship alongside future teammates William Gallas and David Trézéguet.
Impressed with his performances, France head coach Aimé Jacquet called Henry up to the senior team, and at the age of 20 he made his senior international debut on 11 October 1997 in a 2–1 win against South Africa.
Jacquet was so impressed with Henry that he took him to the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the French striker ended the tournament as France's top scorer with three goals.
Unfortunately, Henry did not play in the final, where France beat Brazil 3–0, once Marcel Desailly's sending off forced a defensive change instead. Nevertheless, in that same year, he was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur, France's highest decoration.
However, the Frenchman was definitely a star for Les Bleus in the Euro 2000 helping France claim victory.
London calling
After failing to settle in at Juventus, it was Wenger who, once again turned Henry into a striker and soon had the deadliest weapon in the Premier League wearing No. 14 for Arsenal.
Running-past Roberto Baggio, during a match against Italy, in the 1998 World Cup quarter-finals, in France.
Henry helped Arsenal reach the memorable 2005-06 Champions League final in Paris. The Londoners took the lead on 37 minutes, thanks to Sol Campbell's thumping header after goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had been sent off for bringing down Samuel Eto'o.
Henry missed a crucial chance to give Arsenal a two-goal lead, but with 14 minutes left, Eto'o fired home.
However, just four minutes later Henrik Larsson set up fellow substitute Juliano Belletti to sink the Gunners. It was a killer blow from which Arsenal never looked likely to recover.
Arsene Wenger's side had reached the final following five consecutive wins, and only one draw in the group stage. They had begun a journey of 900 minutes without conceding and eliminated Real Madrid, Juventus e Villareal along the way.
That same year, Henry shone in the World Cup 2006, becoming one of the top players of the tournament. He scored three goals, including the winning goal from Zidane's free kick against defending champions Brazil. But, France subsequently lost to Italy on penalties (5–3) in the final.
Coincidently or not, the fact is that every time Henry scored a hat-trick in an international competition, France went on to reach the final.
From Ramblas to Fifth Avenue
On 25 June, 2007, the French striker shocked the world as he completed a £16.1m move from Arsenal to Spanish club Barcelona.
Henry's statue at the Emirates Stadium.
The Arsenal legend left Barcelona in 2010, and embarked on a new challenge in the MLS, joining New York Red Bulls. Since then, Henry has turned into one of the most prolific stars of Major League Soccer.
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