Thierry Henry Clarifies Controversial Jokes at Ballon d’Or

Thierry Henry, the former France and Arsenal forward, defended his remarks made during the Ballon d’Or ceremony on October 28, 2026, after facing criticism for jokes aimed at Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal and co-host Kate Scott. Henry, who co-hosted the event with CBS Sports presenter Scott, stated in a social media video that his comments were misunderstood.

He joked about Yamal winning the Young Player of the Year award for the third time, asking, “It’s your third one, right? But is it the one you really wanted to win?” Henry emphasized that he meant no disrespect and praised Yamal’s talent.

He also addressed accusations of disrespecting Scott after correcting her pronunciation of Socrates’ name, insisting that she was in on the joke. Henry expressed support for Kylian Mbappe in the main award race, which was won by Harry Kane, whom he praised for his work ethic.

He urged critics to move on from the controversy, reiterating his admiration for both Kane and Yamal.