Which has been Henry's best MLS goal?
Throughout his four-plus yeas in MLS, Thierry Henry has provided a glut of brilliant moments. Goals, assists, flicks and tricks. You name it, Henry has done it.
This weekend, the New York Red Bulls captain provided his latest moment of world-class ability, scoring a screamer of a goal in a 2-1 victory vs. Sporting Kansas City (video above). It was just the latest jaw-dropping highlight in a legendary career that could come to a close at season's end, but it also posed a pertinent question.
Was this Henry's best MLS goal ever?
For those with a great and vivid memory, the answer to that question is not so simple. Henry has scored several high-quality goals since arriving in the league in 2010, and the variety in which they have come makes for a difficult choice to distinguish one as the best. Here are some of Henry's better MLS goals (in chronological order) to help show you just how tough it is to pick one above the rest of the pack.
Sept. 15, 2012 - Olimpico vs. Columbus Crew
Olimpicos are rare. Olimpicos that do not contain even a little bit of luck, even more so.
Henry, however, produced one of the better corner-kick goals you will ever see, as he quickly and carefully calculated how to hit his set piece into the back in a 3-1 win vs. the Columbus Crew. Henry noticed Crew backup goalkeeper Matt Lampson cheating a bit too much toward his near post, and the Frenchman proceeded to bend an unstoppable shot off the post and in just before the final whistle.
Sept. 29, 2012 - Lob vs. Toronto FC
Not only did Henry set up each of New York's first three goals in the 4-1 triumph over Toronto FC, but he also punctuated his masterful performance with a deft lob from distance in the final moments of stoppage time (at the 7:57 mark). Racing onto a well-weighted Kenny Cooper through ball, Henry perfectly measured his shot to the far post and over helpless Toronto goalkeeper Freddy Hall. Making the moment even better and more memorable for Red Bulls fans was Henry pointing to his MetroStars-themed captain's armband during his celebration.
May 8, 2013 - Bicycle kick vs. Montreal Impact
It appeared to be just an acrobatic and incredible insurance goal, but it wound up being an acrobatice and incredible winner. Henry netted a stunning bicycle kick against the Montreal Impact to push the Red Bulls' lead to 2-0 in the 88th minute, reacting well to a Markus Holgersson header and adjusting his body before launching himself into the air to make sweet contact with a ball that went over a leaping Felipe and into the top corner. Marco Di Vaio scored moments later to give the Impact some late life, but Henry's superb strike was not to be negated.
Oct. 27, 2013 - Half-Volley vs. Chicago Fire
With a chance to lift the first piece of significant hardware in the club's history in the regular-season finale, the Red Bulls unsurprisingly fell behind early to a Mike Magee goal. But Henry - as he has so often - came to the rescue for his side, latching onto a pass over the top from Peguy Luyindula and unleashing a ferocious half-volley that nailed the underside off the crossbar before going in. The amazing and technically-perfect goal inspired New York to rally to an emphatic 5-2 win that gave the Red Bulls the Supporters' Shield and will be a moment that the club's fans will never forget.
Which goal do you think has been Henry's best in MLS thus far? Is it one of these five or another one?
Let us know in the comments section below.
