 After a tentative start to his Monaco career , Henry was named the French Young Footballer of the Year in 1996 , and in the 1996 – 97 season , his solid performances helped the club win the Ligue 1 title . During the 1997 – 98 season , he was instrumental in leading his club to the UEFA Champions League semi @-@ final , setting a French record by scoring seven goals in the competition . By his third season , he had received his first cap for the national team , and was part of the winning team in the 1998 FIFA World Cup . He continued to impress at his tenure with Monaco , and in his five seasons with the French club , the young winger scored 20 league goals in 105 appearances . 
