According to reports, Henry displayed an aura of talent and class that night. In the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Arsenal faced a star-studded Real Madrid team featuring Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, David Beckham, and Iker Casillas, who seemed unbeatable. However, it was Henry who left everyone in awe. In the 47th minute, he surged from midfield, outpaced Ronaldo, Guti, and Álvaro Mejía, and with a precise left-footed strike, beat Sergio Ramos and Casillas to score the only goal of the match.

This goal, which secured a 0-1 victory, was not Henry’s only shining moment. In stoppage time, he executed a brilliant technical move against Ramos, winning a corner to manage the clock. The move was performed with such confidence and elegance that even Real Madrid fans had no choice but to applaud. Henry even apologized for the move, though some believed it was a gesture of sheer superiority.

That night was not only pivotal for Arsenal, who later reached the Paris final, but also for Real Madrid. The defeat against Arsenal marked the beginning of a crisis at Real. Days later, after losing to Mallorca, Florentino Perez, then president of Real Madrid, resigned. He later admitted he had “spoiled” his players, and the locker room, filled with egos, had spiraled out of control. Interim coach Juan López Caro failed to salvage the season, and Real ended the campaign without silverware.

Now, nearly 20 years later, Real Madrid finds themselves in a tight spot against Arsenal once again, but this time, they are a different team with lessons learned from the past. Florentino Perez, who has made a successful return, is unlikely to surrender so easily this time.