Preparing to compete in a home World Cup, Amandine Henry is living her dream - and she wants young girls to believe in theirs' so they can do the same.
A published author of the children’s book, Believe in Your Dream, Henry takes her responsibility as a professional athlete and role model very seriously.
“Football is everything for me,” says Henry. “Football is my heart, my head, my body. It’s everything.
“I wrote this book because it’s important for me to be an example for the future. When I was young I would [have liked] to have an opinion from the older players. I hope [my book] will be an example.”
For now though, focus is very much on the present - representing her country at the 2019 Women’s World Cup to be held across nine different cities across France.
And something the squad have on their minds is following the example of the men’s team in Russia last summer.
“Hugo Lloris told me it was a big experience,” Henry reveals of her discussion with Les Bleus’ captain after their 4-2 win over Croatia last July.
“We have to write our history. It’s a good example for us and we have to follow [the men].”
The midfielder was part of the France squad that underwhelmed at the 2015 World Cup, eventually knocked out by Germany on penalties in the quarter-finals.
Despite a disappointing tournament as a team, Henry was by far and away their standout performer. She was awarded the Silver Ball, recognised as the competition’s second best player but she is determined the team put on a better performance this time around.
At club level, the 29-year-old has enjoyed an illustrious career so far, with 10 Division 1 Féminine titles and five Champions League medals with Lyon.
In 2016-17, Henry made the move to Portland Thorns in the US and in her only full season there, won the NWSL Championship. She re-signed for Lyon at the beginning of this season, picking up where she left off by winning the treble with the women’s football juggernauts.
A perpetual winner and football obsessive, Henry is keen to add more silverware to her trophy cabinet - and many will be tipping her and her international teammates to this summer.
Amandine Henry was speaking at Nike's Women's World Cup event in Paris.