The legendary player for France and Arsenal, Thierry Henry, has disclosed that he battled depression during his exceptional playing career.
The 46-year-old, who leads Arsenal in goals scored all time and helped his country win the World Cup with France. He said in an interview with the Diary of a CEO podcast that the coronavirus pandemic made him more aware of his mental health issues, shedding tears "almost every day."
Henry has connected that to his past and his need to win his father over after he frequently criticized his performances as a young player.
"Throughout my career, and since I was born, I must have been in depression," said Henry.
Did you read this?
"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.
"I never stopped walking; then I would have realized. (But during) Covid - I stopped walking. I couldn't. Then you start to realize."
When the pandemic struck, Henry led the Canadian team Montreal Impact, which put him apart from his family and on the other side of the globe.
"I was in isolation in Montreal, and not being able to see my kids for a year was tough," he added.
"Tears were coming alone. Maybe they were there for a long time.
"Technically, it wasn't me, it was the young me. (Crying for) everything he didn't get, approval."
Henry, currently the under-21 team's coach for France, stated that his father's goal for him to be "an amazing football player" was present from the time he held his son.
"As a little boy it was always 'you didn't do that well'. So obviously when you hear that more often than not, that's what's going to stay," said Henry.
"(It) did to a degree help the athlete....(it) didn't help so much the human being".
