Who is the better player: Mbappe or Henry?

Who is the better player?


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Stacks

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This is the guy who lead a young Monaco side to a SF at 18, scoring 6 goals in the KO rounds(2 against City, 3 against Dortmund, 1 against Juventus). We can compare teams and eras all we want and go round in circles. The actual, non-disputable fact is that Mbappé has been a far, far, faaaaar more productive player in CL than Henry. Henry played 13 seasons in CL and racked up 50 goals and 22 assists. Mbappé is in his 7th CL season and has 40 goals and 26 assists.

Likewise for France in tournaments, Henry played in 7*(2010 was a backup and barely played) tournaments, putting up 12 goals and 3 assists. Mbappé is in his 3rd and has 9 goals and 5 assists

Note that I'm going by transfermarket and they count penalties won(and then scored) as assists
And Mbappe was ZERO wins despite being on a STACKED TEAM.
 

troylocker

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Henry more creative, better technique, better dribbler, passer, free kicks, long range goals. I'm struggling to see what Mbappe is better at.
The most important thing, endproduct!
In all tournaments for both club and country Mbappe creates more and scores more, a lot more.
They both play(ed) mainly as CF or LW/RW.

Henry when he turned 24 for clubs:
Monaco: 28 goals and 3 assists in 141 matches (7335 minutes) - 0,34 goals/90 and 0,38 goals+assists/90
Juve: 3 goals and 2 assists in 21 matches (1388 minutes) - 0,19 goals/90 and 0,32 goals+assists/90
Arsenal: 48 goals and 20 assists in 100 matches (7380 minutes) - 0,58 goals/90 and 0,83 goals+assists/90
Total 79 goals and 25 assists in 260 matches (16022 minutes) 0,44 goals/90 and 0,58 goals+assists/90

Henry for Arsenal (peak):
228 goals and 103 assists in 376 matches (30439 minutes) - 0,67 goals/90 and 0,98 goals+assists/90 (0,30 assists/90)
Henry for Barca:
49 goals and 27 assists in 121 matches (8545 minutes) - 0,52 goals/90 and 0,80 goals+assists/90

Mbappe so far for clubs:
Monaco: 27 goals and 16 assists in 60 matches (3275 minutes) - 0,74 goals/90 and 1,18 goals+assists/90
PSG: 190 goals and 93 assists in 237 matches (18937 minutes) - 0,90 goals/90 and 1,35 goals+assists/90
Total: 217 goals and 109 assists in 297 matches (22212 minutes) - 0,88 goals/90 and 1,32 goals+assists/90 (0,44 assists/90)

Henry when he turned 24 for France:
10 goals and 3 assists in 29 matches (1918 minutes) - 0,47 goals/90 and 0,61 goals+assists/90

In WC-98: 3 goals (South Africa (1) and Saudi Arabia (2) in group stages) and 0 assists in 6 matches (366 minutes) - 0,74 goals/90 and 0,74 goals+assists/90
0 goals in KO stages and sat on the bench for 90 minutes in the final.
In EURO-2000: 3 goals (2 in group stages and 1 against Portugal in the semi) and 1 assists in 5 matches (470 minutes) - 0,57 goals/90 and 0,77 goals+assists/90
Total in group stage: 5 goals and 1 assist in 5 games (367 minutes) - 1,23 goals/90 and 1,47 goals+assists/90
Total in KO stages: 1 goal and 0 assists in 6 games (469 minutes) - 0,19 goals/90 and 0,19 goals+assists/90

Mbappe so far for France:
33 goals and 22 assists in 63 matches (4645 minutes) - 0,64 goals/90 and 1,07 goals+assists/90

In WC: 9 goals (4 in group stage - 5 in KO stage) and 3 assists in 11 matches (831 minutes) - 0,98 goals/90 and 1,30 goals+assists/90
In EURO: 0 goals and 2 assists in 4 matches (390 minutes) - 0 goals/90 and 0,46 goals+assists/90
Total in group stage: 4 goals and 2 assists in 9 matches (654 minutes) - 0,55 goals/90 and 0,83 goals+assists/90
Total in KO stages: 5 goals and 3 assists in 6 matches (567 minutes) - 0,79 goals/90 and 1,27 goals+assists/90

Henry vs. Mbappe in the CL:
Henry: 50 goals and 22 assists in 112 matches (8602 minutes) - 0,52 goals/90 and 0,75 goals+assists/90
Mbappe: 40 goals and 26 assists in 59 matches (4650 minutes) - 0,77 goals/90 and 1,28 goals+assists/90

Do you really struggle to see anything that Mbappe is better at?
Sometimes nostalgia beats common sense.

Henry was a great player and he was maybe better at some things than Mbappe, but there's little doubt which of these two is the better player. Mbappe's been stuck in France for too long, but as soon as he moves on, he'll be cemented as the best or one of the 2-3 best players of this era.
 
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Stacks

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The most important thing, endproduct!
In all tournaments for both club and country Mbappe creates more and scores more, a lot more.
They both play(ed) mainly as CF or LW/RW.

Henry when he turned 24 for clubs:
Monaco: 28 goals and 3 assists in 141 matches (7335 minutes) - 0,34 goals/90 and 0,38 goals+assists/90
Juve: 3 goals and 2 assists in 21 matches (1388 minutes) - 0,19 goals/90 and 0,32 goals+assists/90
Arsenal: 48 goals and 20 assists in 100 matches (7380 minutes) - 0,58 goals/90 and 0,83 goals+assists/90
Total 79 goals and 25 assists in 260 matches (16022 minutes) 0,44 goals/90 and 0,58 goals+assists/90

Henry for Arsenal (peak):
228 goals and 103 assists in 376 matches (30439 minutes) - 0,67 goals/90 and 0,98 goals+assists/90 (0,30 assists/90)
Henry for Barca:
49 goals and 27 assists in 121 matches (8545 minutes) - 0,52 goals/90 and 0,80 goals+assists/90

Mbappe so far for clubs:
Monaco: 27 goals and 16 assists in 60 matches (3275 minutes) - 0,74 goals/90 and 1,18 goals+assists/90
PSG: 190 goals and 93 assists in 237 matches (18937 minutes) - 0,90 goals/90 and 1,35 goals+assists/90
Total: 217 goals and 109 assists in 297 matches (22212 minutes) - 0,88 goals/90 and 1,32 goals+assists/90 (0,44 assists/90)

Henry when he turned 24 for France:
10 goals and 3 assists in 29 matches (1918 minutes) - 0,47 goals/90 and 0,61 goals+assists/90

In WC-98: 3 goals (South Africa (1) and Saudi Arabia (2) in group stages) and 0 assists in 6 matches (366 minutes) - 0,74 goals/90 and 0,74 goals+assists/90
0 goals in KO stages and sat on the bench for 90 minutes in the final.
In EURO-2000: 3 goals (2 in group stages and 1 against Portugal in the semi) and 1 assists in 5 matches (470 minutes) - 0,57 goals/90 and 0,77 goals+assists/90
Total in group stage: 5 goals and 1 assist in 5 games (367 minutes) - 1,23 goals/90 and 1,47 goals+assists/90
Total in KO stages: 1 goal and 0 assists in 6 games (469 minutes) - 0,19 goals/90 and 0,19 goals+assists/90

Monaco so far for France:
33 goals and 22 assists in 63 matches (4645 minutes) - 0,64 goals/90 and 1,07 goals+assists/90

In WC: 9 goals (4 in group stage - 5 in KO stage) and 3 assists in 11 matches (831 minutes) - 0,98 goals/90 and 1,30 goals+assists/90
In EURO: 0 goals and 2 assists in 4 matches (390 minutes) - 0 goals/90 and 0,46 goals+assists/90
Total in group stage: 4 goals and 2 assists in 9 matches (654 minutes) - 0,55 goals/90 and 0,83 goals+assists/90
Total in KO stages: 5 goals and 3 assists in 6 matches (567 minutes) - 0,79 goals/90 and 1,27 goals+assists/90

Henry vs. Mbappe in the CL:
Henry: 50 goals and 22 assists in 112 matches (8602 minutes) - 0,52 goals/90 and 0,75 goals+assists/90
Mbappe: 40 goals and 26 assists in 59 matches (4650 minutes) - 0,77 goals/90 and 1,28 goals+assists/90

Do you really struggle to see anything that Mbappe is better at?
Sometimes nostalgia beats common sense.

Henry was a great player and he was maybe better at some things than Mbappe, but there's little doubt which of these two is the better player. Mbappe's been stuck in France for too long, but as soon as he moves on, he'll be cemented as the best or one of the 2-3 best players of this era.
I dont really care what Mbappe does in france. we saw what Zlatan did in that league and its a cakewalk. Until Mbappe challenges himself in a better league he is in the shadow. The main comparison is CL and international. Yes Mbappe has better CL record in the tournament format. If Mpabbe can score 25 goals per season in a top league (I think he can btw) he will cement it, so long as he also wins the CL, which he probably will also
 

troylocker

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Mbappe hasn’t been Frances best player, Griezmann has.

1998 & 2000 were mostly 442 tournament selections. Henry wasn’t a good fit.

I mean, I’m more than willing to accept that Mbappe may prove to be the best French player of all time, but we don’t need to twist history to make him that.

The kid is phenomenal. But we shouldn’t cherry pick across eras. Henry would absolutely destroy modern day defences in exactly the same way. His best years came when France were not the outright best team on the planet. That’s not a stick to beat him with.

To accept that Mbappe is better than Henry you probably have to accept that Ronaldo (not Cristiano) was better than Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. You can’t just remove longevity and their best years to make a call.

In a one off game against a team in a Champions League final, if I get to pick one of the 5 mentioned to play for the opposition, at their absolute single day peak… I’d choose to face Mbappe, then Henry, then Cristiano, then Ronaldo, then Messi.

With that said… I do actually think that Mbappe will be the best French player of all time, and eclipse Henry. He’ll absolutely go last Ronaldo in terms of career and longevity. But I don’t think he will ever surpass Ronaldo, Messi and Cristiano as single season unplayable footballers.
Do you really put Henry above Platini and Zidane?
 

troylocker

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I dont really care what Mbappe does in france. we saw what Zlatan did in that league and its a cakewalk. Until Mbappe challenges himself in a better league he is in the shadow. The main comparison is CL and international. Yes Mbappe has better CL record in the tournament format. If Mpabbe can score 25 goals per season in a top league (I think he can btw) he will cement it, so long as he also wins the CL, which he probably will also
We totally agree that he needs to move on to a better league if he wants to be considered among the best of the best, but his production rate for France and in the CL is far better than Henry's as well.
 

Stacks

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We totally agree that he needs to move on to a better league if he wants to be considered among the best of the best, but his production rate for France and in the CL is far better than Henry's as well.
But he also plays for a CL favorite most years and they fail every year. Arsenal were never favorites going into any campaign by my recollection. Other than Mbappe debut season with Monaco which made him, I am not that blown away by his CL
 

AjaxCunian

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Just to stay clear of your meme, how do you explain he has 26 CL assists to Henry's 22 in half as many matches?

Pretty sure you'll talk about him having stacked teammates, but then how do you explain him having 23 NT assists to Henry's 25, once again in half as many matches? Wasn't the French NT good enough?

At some point some here should admit they just don't know what they're talking about.
He's just talking out of his arse. Twisting arguments, if Henry gets less assists it is because of Zidane's influence in that superteam meanwhile Mbappe plays with Neymar and Messi who see the ball more than he does.
 

wangyu

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Henry is one of the top 5 best ever players in the EPL. Mbappe has a lot to prove yet
 

giorno

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I'm talking CL. He has made one final during single leg rounds in Covid year, despite playing with Neymar. Every year nobody expects them to win anymore because they are just a disappointment. getting beat by the likes of United
True, though you also have to account for how many times he actually did have Neymar at his side(case in point, no Neymar in the second leg against real madrid in '18, across both games against United in '19, then he got injured for the second leg against City in '21, and last season no Neymar for the first leg and barely fit for the second. Yes he had Messi but Messi was really bad. Mbappé took on Real Madrid almost single-handedly, and very nearly won). Also Henry did win the CL, for the barcelona, when he was like their 8th best player...
 

Stacks

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True, though you also have to account for how many times he actually did have Neymar at his side(case in point, no Neymar in the second leg against real madrid in '18, across both games against United in '19, then he got injured for the second leg against City in '21, and last season no Neymar for the first leg and barely fit for the second. Yes he had Messi but Messi was really bad. Mbappé took on Real Madrid almost single-handedly, and very nearly won). Also Henry did win the CL, for the barcelona, when he was like their 8th best player...
very true! Neymar absences are holding him back I can admit
 

Judge Red

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I was never able to appreciate Henry. Hated him and the whole of Arsenal back then. He was just a handball merchant to me.

So there. Until he joins Arsenal, I’m going with Mbappe.
 

UnrelatedPsuedo

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Do you really put Henry above Platini and Zidane?
No, I don’t. Kind of two things at work in my rant.

- Trying to compare 5 forwards
- Trying to point out that I think Mbappe could/will possibly leapfrog all French players.

Kind of conflated Henry/Mbappe/French players as I gobbed off.
 

Stacks

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I was never able to appreciate Henry. Hated him and the whole of Arsenal back then. He was just a handball merchant to me.

So there. Until he joins Arsenal, I’m going with Mbappe.
he scored some bangers against us and ran through Liverpool midfield and Scored. I hated him but can't deny his talent
 

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Tbh, do we have Henry's stats at top speed ? I know we do for Mbappe. The eye test isn't enough, specially for players of different eras
The top speed was measured at Sky before Opta was even a thing.

 
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Stacks

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I've had a night to sleep on it. The fact that it is a genuine argument that 23 year old mbappe is better than prime Henry is kinda insane and shows you what a wonderkid Mbappe is
 

giorno

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I've had a night to sleep on it. The fact that it is a genuine argument that 23 year old mbappe is better than prime Henry is kinda insane and shows you what a wonderkid Mbappe is
Personally i find it amusing and interesting now, and think it will look insane and somewhat insulting in 10 years time
 

tjb

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Mbappe at 23 is better than Henry at 23.

I think Mbappe will end up being better once he retires.
Which is fair. However at the same time, Henry went to the next level at 24. There is no guarantee that Mbappe ends up living up to expectation. We've seen certain superstars move to different leagues and flounder.
 

Fortitude

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There’s no discussion to be had on who you take for a big game between the two now.

Who the better player is is almost a Platini vs Zidane situation now, I think.
 

Bosnian_fan

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Surely there's no debate at all, the only thing Henry has on his side is the fact that Mbappe is only 23. He will fill up his CV incredibly in the next few years so that this will turn into no-contest.
 

GifLord

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Surely there's no debate at all, the only thing Henry has on his side is the fact that Mbappe is only 23. He will fill up his CV incredibly in the next few years so that this will turn into no-contest.
Yeah but he needs to leave PSG. Stat padding in that league is an absolute joke
 

Gio

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True enough.

Nice post, but you stayed dead centre, Mr. Devil's Advocate. :angel:
Didn’t want to revise my view within a matter of days. But can’t argue against Mbappe. How many attackers in the history of the game have injected that quality and bottle into a World Cup final? He’s moving into the top tier of strikers of all time, leaving Henry behind in the second group.
 
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Mbappe is by far the better big game player. That cannot be argued. He’s a step closer after today too to being prime Henry levels of a footballer. He has huge balls.
 

FrankFoot

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23 years old Mbappe > 23 years old Henry

No doubt

People who are saying Henry are mostly falling for nostalgia, cause they watched Henry in a CRT television as kids/teenagers.

I only agree falling for nostalgia when it comes to movies and music, cause modern movies/music is soooo bad overall.
 
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BarcaSpurs

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Was dreadful for the first 80 mins along with the rest of the french team, but absolutely clutch penalties and that 2nd goal was ridiculous. Dare i say a Cristiano-esque performance from him?
 

FrankFoot

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Was dreadful for the first 80 mins along with the rest of the french team, but absolutely clutch penalties and that 2nd goal was ridiculous. Dare i say a Cristiano-esque performance from him?
Cristiano was never clutch in a WC, don't insult Mbappe comparing him to a player who never scored in a WC knockout stage.
 

bosnian_red

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There's very few players in history who have done what Mbappe has done, ignoring that he's 23. He's like a mix of Brazilian Ronaldo and Henry, and he's going to go down as the all time top scorer of world cups probably in 4 years time. I don't think Henry can compete with him, and Mbappe is only 23.
 

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Henry had more "style" and had a collection of great technical goals (the one vs Barthez, the flick), more ability in FKs. Mbappe for me at the moment and there won't be a debate at all very soon
 

izec

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There's very few players in history who have done what Mbappe has done, ignoring that he's 23. He's like a mix of Brazilian Ronaldo and Henry, and he's going to go down as the all time top scorer of world cups probably in 4 years time. I don't think Henry can compete with him, and Mbappe is only 23.
Henry cannot compete with him. People have a soft spot for Titi, but objectively looking, Mbappe is too good.
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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France are not making that comeback with Henry in the team instead of Mbappe.

He is the more effective footballer despite Henry's grace.

This won't be close once Mbappe's career is over.
 

Devil81

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Henry was unreal but this lad is so young but is already his equal ability wise.