A historic celebration with Henry.

Panama's hero Cecilio Waterman celebrated his historic goal with French legend Thierry Henry on the morning of March 21st.

Cecilio Waterman had a memorable celebration with commentator Henry.

People often say you should never meet your idol, but Cecilio Waterman couldn't contain himself when he shone in Panama's 1-0 victory over the USA in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-final.

What seemed like a dull match finally had a dramatic ending when Waterman unleashed a powerful shot in the 90+4th minute, securing a valuable victory for the underdog visiting team.

Panama's hero had a moment to celebrate for the rest of his life. After scoring, the 33-year-old striker rushed to the CBS commentary booth outside the stadium, where Thierry Henry was sitting as a commentator.

He immediately rushed forward, jumped over the fence, went right up to Henry and hugged the former French star, while his Panama teammates also came to surround them, sharing in the overwhelming joy. "You are my idol! You are my idol!" – Waterman shouted in Spanish at that moment.

After the game, during the commentary program, Waterman was invited to participate and recounted the story of how he grew up with Henry as a great source of inspiration.

“Last night, at the team hotel, I was asked ‘Who is your idol?’ and I answered ‘Always Thierry Henry.’ I’ve watched him play at Arsenal, and the truth is, since I was a child, he’s always been my inspiration. I score goals, I see him and I know I have to go and greet him,” Waterman shared.

Henry admitted he was surprised by the situation and delighted that the hug was so meaningful. "I never thought I'd be part of a celebration like that without scoring a goal or even being on the pitch," Henry said.

The former Arsenal star admitted: “I could see it in his eyes – he was in a state of ecstasy. Luckily, I understand Spanish. When he said 'eres mi idolo' (you are my idol), I breathed a sigh of relief. I don’t know what happened next, but it was a special moment.”

Waterman's goal propelled Panama into the Nations League final. This presents an opportunity for the team to win their first major title in the CONCACAF region.