Thierry Henry reveals what Panama star said to him in wild celebrations against USA | Football

It’s been well over a decade since the great Thierry Henry took centre-stage on a football pitch in his pomp.

But the legendary ex-Arsenal forward unwittingly became the star of the show as Panama stunned the United States to reach the Concacaf Nations League final on Thursday night.

With 20 minutes remaining and extra-time looming, Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen decided to throw on Cecilio Waterman in place of Jose Fajardo at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.

Waterman still had work to do after receiving the ball on the edge of the box from Adalberto Carrasquilla in the 94th minute, but the 33-year-old forward took a perfect touch before arrowing a low strike beyond Matt Turner into the far corner.

The veteran attacker instinctively took his shirt off in celebration and jumped over the advertising hoardings, with his fellow countrymen trailing in his wake in wild scenes behind the goal.

It soon became clear that Waterman was making a beeline for iconic former Arsenal and France forward Henry, who was sat alongside former USA captain Clint Dempsey and host Kate Abdo in CBS Sports’ makeshift studio.

A visibly shocked Henry could hardly believe the chaos ensuring around him as Waterman and his jubilant Panama team-mates formed an impromptu huddle around him.

Speaking after Panama held firm for the remaining few minutes to seal a 1-0 win, Henry lifted the lid on what Waterman had said to him during the incredible stoppage-time scenes.

‘That was outstanding. Like, I was shocked, in fairness,’ he told CBS Sports.

‘That was a hell of a finish by the way. I was shocked. Obviously he knew where we were.

‘Joking aside, I never thought I was going to be part of a celebration like that and not scoring the goal and not even being on the field.

‘But look, that’s what it meant to them. I saw in his eyes because he was pretty close, that he was in a trance.

‘Thank God I understand Spanish. When he said, “Eres mi idolo’, (“you are my idol”) and I was like, “OK, phew!”. I don’t know where we were going there, but that was special, really.’

Waterman later joined the CBS Sports team to discuss his dramatic last winner and there was a touching moment as the Coquimbo Unido forward gifted his Panama shirt to the 1998 World Cup winner.

The pair then shared an embrace, with Waterman explaining his feelings during the celebration and how Henry had been his idol since childhood.

‘The truth is that the day before at the hotel they asked me who my idol was when I was little, and I said it was Henry,’ Waterman said.

‘I always watched him growing up. When I was little, I watched him at Arsenal, and well, scoring that goal and seeing him there, it was crazy.

‘I went to celebrate with him, and the celebration happened by chance.

‘I told him, “You’re my idol”.’

Panama return to the same stadium to take on Mexico in Sunday’s final at the same stadium, while Mauricio Pochettino’s USA team face off against Canada for third place.

Waterman hopes the victory stands his nation in good stead ahead of their World Cup qualifying campaign, which continues in June against Belize and Nicaragua.

‘Panama has grown a lot,’ he added.

‘The coach has implemented a rhythm of play for us, studying our opponents well.

‘We hope to open a path to the World Cup, because it would be great for us.’

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