Newcastle United's all-time leading goal scorer Alan Shearer was among the first two players to be inducted into the brand new Premier League Hall of Fame.
The brand new honour has been introduced and is the highest award the Premier League can offer to players.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry was the other player to be introduced alongside Shearer.
Two centre-forwards, both gifted with natural skill and talent who have written their names in Premier League history
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 26, 2021
We’re delighted to announce Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry as the first two inductees of the #PLHallOfFame pic.twitter.com/MAKgi3SYzV
Why Shearer and Henry?
Both players inclusion into the Premier League Hall of Fame is unquestionable.
Shearer is the Premier League all-time goal scorer, a Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers in 1995, the only player in league history to score 100 goals for two different clubs and a three-time golden boot winner. Not to mention being Newcastle United's record goalscorer with 206 and the greatest ever number nine.
Henry won the Premier League title twice for Arsenal, once as part of the 'Invincibles' season in 2002 and again in 2004. Henry added three FA Cup's and a record four golden boots. The Frenchman added 175 goals in his 258 appearances for Arsenal in their most incredible time in the Premier League.
Both of the strikers are among the best to grace the league and will always be remembered as such.
What they had to say
Shearer and Henry both spoke about being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
"When you look at some of the unbelievable players to have graced the Premier League - week in, week out, year in, year out - I feel very honoured to join the Hall of Fame. I have to thank all of my teammates, as well as the managers and coaches that I've worked with.
"All I ever wanted to be was a professional footballer. It was my dream to do that, my dream to win trophies and my dream to score at St James' Park, to wear the number nine black-and-white shirt and it was fantastic. I enjoyed every minute of it."
The outstanding property of Shearer that is not discussed enough is the humble attribute that shows through whenever the Newcastle great discusses his time on Tyneside.
Henry added his praise on Shearer as well:
"To be inducted alongside Alan Shearer as the two first inductees into the Premier League Hall of Fame is more than special."
Chief Executive of the Premier League Richard Masters had his say on both players:
"Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry are two world-class players who lit up the Premier League throughout their time in the competition. Both players were capable of scoring every kind of goal, including some of the best we have ever seen.
"Shearer’s record 260 Premier League goals puts him at the top of a long list of exceptional goal scorers. The fact that record remains unchallenged today, 15 years since his retirement, goes to show what an achievement it was."
Shearer and Henry will feature in a unique programme, broadcast at 6pm Monday on Sky Sports Premier League. Kelly Cates will interview the two icons as they look back on their Premier League careers, with some special guests also making an appearance.