Position: Forward
Born: 17.08.77
Club: Arsenal

Thierry Henry is undoubtedly one of the most exciting players in world football today.

Although he plays as a striker, his versatility makes him more influential than a traditional forward, often dropping deep to receive the ball from midfield.

With his speed, vision and pure footballing ability, he creates nearly as many goals as he scores. And he scores plenty, his pace and coolness in front of goal making him one of the Premiership's most feared marksmen and Arsenal's all-time leading scorer.

At international level, Henry is in a race with team-mate David Trezeguet to overhaul Michel Platini's goalscoring record for Les Bleus.

A vital part of the all-conquering French side around the turn of the Millennium, winning the World Cup in 1998 and then Euro 2000, where he finished as France's leading scorer with three goals in six games.

However, along with the rest of the France squad, Henry will want to forget the last World Cup; he was sent off against Uruguay as the holders crashed out early.

Despite that, Henry's reputation now precedes him and the striker will certainly be among the favourites for the Golden Boot, with few likely to bet against him justifying that position.

At club level, he first sprang to prominence with Monaco as they knocked out Manchester United en route to the Champions League semi-finals in 1998.

He eventually left Stade Louis II for Juventus but that didn't work out and shortly afterwards Arsenal took him away from Turin for just over £10million.

Since then he's never looked back and has been probably the Premiership's best player in recent seasons.

A nightmare for defenders, he is now the mainstay of an Arsenal team in transition following the departure of Patrick Vieira.

• 6 Claude Makelele
• 19 Willy Sagnol
• 15 Lilian Thuram
• 20 David Trezeguet
• 4 Patrick Vieira
• 11 Sylvain Wiltord
• 10 Zinedine Zidane