Amandine Henry
Defensive Midfielder · Olympique Lyonnais / Portland Thorns · France
About Amandine Henry
The 2015 Women's World Cup Golden Ball winner as best player in the tournament, Amandine Henry was France's midfield general — a physically powerful, technically accomplished defensive midfielder who commanded games from the base of midfield with Lyon and France for 15 years.
Amandine Henry's story
Lille's Midfielder
Amandine Henry was born on 28 September 1989 in Lille, in the north of France. She played at Mons-en-Baroeul before joining Lyon in 2008, where she became one of the most important players in the club's long era of dominance. Her physical presence, technical quality, and ability to read the game made her an ideal defensive midfielder.
2015 World Cup Golden Ball
Henry won the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2015 Women's World Cup — France's best ever showing at the tournament. The award recognised both her individual performances and the leadership she provided as France's midfield anchor. She was the deserved individual standout of a superb tournament.
Portland Adventure
In 2016, Henry moved to Portland Thorns in the NWSL — an unusual choice for a Lyon player, but reflective of her ambition to experience different football cultures. At Portland she was excellent, winning the NWSL Shield and showing American audiences the full range of her ability.
Return to Lyon & Retirement
Henry returned to Lyon and continued to win Champions League and league titles before retiring in 2023. She captained France for many years and remains one of the most respected figures in French women's football. Since retiring she has moved into coaching and punditry.
Did you know?
- Henry won the Golden Ball at the 2015 Women's World Cup — the award for the best player in the tournament — after a dominant individual performance as France's midfield anchor.
- She was the first French player to win a World Cup individual award since Zinedine Zidane won the Golden Ball at the 1998 Men's World Cup — a statistic that reflects how highly regarded her 2015 tournament was.
- Henry captained France for many years and has spoken about the added pressure of representing a country where women's football struggled for decades to receive the same resources and attention as the men's game.
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