Thierry Henry has spoken out to defend his performance as co-host of Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, pushing back against public criticism over comments he made regarding Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, overall winner Harry Kane, and fellow presenter Kate Scott.
Henry, the former France and Arsenal forward who presented the gala alongside CBS Sports colleague Scott, faced negative reactions on social media following the event. In a video message released on Wednesday, the 49-year-old addressed what he described as people getting overly excited about routine stage banter.
Much of the scrutiny centered on an interaction with Lamine Yamal when the young Spanish player won his third consecutive young player of the year award. Henry drew an audible reaction from the live audience when he teased the teenager by asking if it was the award he actually wanted to win. Addressing the backlash in his video, Henry emphasized his high regard for the player and rejected the notion that he was attempting to diminish Yamal’s ego.
Henry stated that he is a massive fan of Lamine Yamal and considers him a player he would personally pay to watch. While acknowledging that viewers might not have enjoyed the humor, he urged critics not to misinterpret his intentions.
Another point of contention involved an exchange on stage with co-host Kate Scott regarding the pronunciation of Brazil legend Socrates’ name, an award ultimately won by Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka for his humanitarian efforts. Viewers accused Henry of undermining Scott, but the presenter insisted that the moment was a collaborative joke between them.
Henry clarified that Scott was entirely in on the bit, noting that she pronounced the name in a specific way on purpose before he chimed in. He urged observers to stop fabricating stories about disrespect, adding that he would never treat his co-host that way and that anyone could ask her to confirm the arrangement.
Regarding the main men’s prize, Henry also addressed comments he made expressing a preference for fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappe to take home the trophy over Harry Kane. Henry clarified that he congratulated Kane directly, calling him a worthy winner and praising his work ethic as a genuine talent. He added that he has referred to Kane as Sir Harry Kane since the World Cup and concluded his remarks by telling the public to relax, reiterating his admiration for both Kane and Lamine Yamal while maintaining that his on-stage interactions were entirely harmless.
