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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Victor

France legend Thierry Henry loses second record at 2022 World Cup

Just days after losing his France goalscoring record, Thierry Henry has also been passed as his national team's all-time assist leader.

Henry, who was part of Les Bleus' 1998 World Cup-winning squad and started the final as France won Euro 2000, retired from internationals in 2010 with 51 goals to his name. That record stood for more than a decade, with Olivier Giroud drawing level with his compatriot by scoring twice in the victory over Australia at the 2022 World Cup before moving ahead with the opener against Poland.

Former Arsenal and Barcelona star Henry also led the way when it came to international assists for France, with 27 to his name. The tally was one more than his 1998 team-mate Zinedine Zidane, but Antoine Griezmann overtook both men by setting up both goals as France beat England in their quarter-final in Qatar.

As reported by Get French Football News, Griezmann's three assists at the World Cup put him in the lead among all players at the tournament. The Atletico Madrid forward laid on Kylian Mbappe's late winner in the group stage victory over Denmark, before feeding Aurelien Tchouameni to open the scoring against England and delivering the cross from which Giroud scored the winner.

Griezmann was France's joint-top scorer - along with Mbappe - at the 2018 World Cup, scoring four times including a penalty in the final. He has played a more withdrawn role this time out, though, and has yet to score in the tournament.

The 31-year-old thought he had opened his account with a late effort against Tunisia, only for a VAR check to rule the goal out for offside. Still, despite Griezmann failing to find the net, he has had a big role to play for Didier Deschamps' side.

Has Griezmann been France's best player in Qatar? Have your say in the comments section

Antoine Griezmann set up both of France's goals against England (AFP via Getty Images)

“I am very proud of this group, for all the moments we spend together on a daily basis," France manager Deschamps told the media after his team's victory. "It pleases me to see them like this. And the best cement to make all of this happen is results, qualifications.

"The quality is not enough, in this group there is also the mind, and perhaps also a little experience. I have young players, there is a collective strength that emerged from the start. It always comes down to a few things at this level. To have rocked the match like that and to have resisted until the end, there is a need for that in a World Cup.”

Griezmann has a chance to extend his record in the semi-final as France take on Morocco after Walid Regragui's team beat Portugal. Giroud can also extend his lead in the all-time charts, with his winner against England taking his tally up to 53.

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