Former France international Thierry Henry has defended his interactions with Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal and presenter Kate Scott at the Ballon d’Or ceremony. Henry, who co-hosted the ceremony with Scott, addressed the backlash in a video posted on his Instagram page on Tuesday, a day after the event was held in London, United Kingdom. He insisted that his remarks were not intended to disrespect either of them.
Henry came under criticism following two separate exchanges during the ceremony. His question to Yamal over the Kopa Trophy and a joke involving Scott sparked debate on social media. The incidents divided viewers, with some accusing Henry of embarrassing Yamal and disrespecting his co-presenter, while others defended the former footballer, describing the moments as harmless humour that had been taken out of context.
The first controversy followed Yamal’s third consecutive Kopa Trophy triumph, an award presented to the best young player in world football. Henry drew attention to the distinction when he asked Yamal whether the Kopa Trophy was the award he had really wanted. Critics argued that the question placed Yamal in an uncomfortable position and risked undermining his achievement.
Henry clarified his intentions, insisting that he was not attempting to challenge Yamal’s ego or diminish his achievement. He explained that he knew the Ballon d’Or announcement was still to come when he spoke to Yamal. Henry further emphasised his admiration for the teenager, describing him as one of the players he particularly enjoys watching.
Henry also addressed the second controversy, which arose during the presentation of the Socrates Award. The exchange involved a joke about the pronunciation of Socrates’ name, with some viewers interpreting Henry’s response to Scott as dismissive or disrespectful towards his co-presenter. Henry insisted that Scott was aware of the joke and had deliberately participated in the exchange.
Rejecting suggestions that he had disrespected Scott, Henry stressed that he would not deliberately undermine his co-presenter. He expressed frustration at the accusations and urged critics not to attribute malicious intentions to his remarks. Henry acknowledged that not everyone would find the exchanges amusing.
Henry's response sought to clarify the circumstances surrounding both incidents, as debate continued over whether the exchanges amounted to inappropriate remarks or were simply jokes that had been misunderstood by some viewers. The Ballon d’Or ceremony, held on October 27, 2026, recognised the achievements of top football players, with Yamal missing out on the main prize despite his Kopa Trophy win.
Key points
- Henry defended his interactions with Lamine Yamal and Kate Scott at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
- The incidents involved a question to Yamal about the Kopa Trophy and a joke with Scott about the Socrates Award.
- Henry insisted that his remarks were not intended to disrespect either Yamal or Scott.
