Football icons Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thierry Henry have publicly supported Australian teenager Lucas Herrington after his crucial penalty miss led to the Socceroos' World Cup exit.
Herrington, an 18-year-old defender, was left devastated after his shot struck the crossbar during a penalty shootout against Egypt in Dallas. The miss, along with a subsequent miss from teammate Harry Souttar, saw Australia eliminated in the Round of 32.
Herrington, who became the youngest Australian to start a World Cup match earlier in the tournament, was consoled by teammates immediately after the match. His willingness to step up for a penalty in such a high-pressure situation has drawn widespread admiration.
Ibrahimovic, the Swedish football great, shared an emotional message directly with Herrington, emphasizing the bravery it took to take the crucial kick. "Penalty is like lottery. You score, you become a hero, you don't score, sadly you become zero," Ibrahimovic said during Fox Sports' World Cup coverage. "You're 18 years old, you're young, this is just the beginning of your career. You stepping up there, you showed a lot of courage, not everybody will do that. My friend, you're the best. Don't listen to the rest."
The former Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain striker also offered personal guidance to the young Australian. "It's not easy to step up there to shoot that penalty, and it's a moment of seconds," Ibrahimovic added. "If you want to reach out, I'm here."
French legend Thierry Henry echoed Ibrahimovic's sentiments, also questioning the decision to place such responsibility on an 18-year-old defender. "Don't be upset; you go there taking it, you miss. I feel for you, but keep your head up," Henry stated. "I'm thinking about the guy that allowed him to go. You should (say), 'No, this is not on you. We're going.' So fair play to (Herrington). I know you missed, but we'll see you again."
Socceroos veteran Aziz Behich also offered support to Herrington, highlighting the team's immediate priority to console the young player. "Lucas is such a great lad. Has a great head on his shoulders. Great professional," Behich said. "I just told him for him to even go up and put the ball down was enough for us. Expect big things from him in the future."
Despite the disappointing end to the World Cup campaign, Herrington's performance has significantly raised his profile. The Colorado Rapids defender made a team-high 10 defensive interventions during Australia's draw with Paraguay, a result that secured their progression to the knockout stage. He has also been linked with a potential move to Spanish champions Barcelona.
According to the CIES Football Observatory, Herrington's market value is now estimated to be between $23 million and $30 million, which would position him among the most valuable Australian footballers in history if a transfer materializes.
