Thierry Henry Defends Comments About Lamine Yamal After Backlash

Thierry Henry, a former striker for Arsenal and France, has responded to criticism over his comments about Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal during the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony. Henry, who co-hosted the event with Kate Scott, joked about whether Yamal truly wanted the Kopa Trophy, which honors the best young player in football.

Yamal won the trophy for the third time, but Henry’s joke upset some fans who thought he was questioning the teenager’s desire for recognition. In a video on Instagram, Henry explained that his words were misunderstood and emphasized that he admires Yamal’s talent.

Henry said, “I wasn’t checking his ego at all. I just thought, as the third time that he’s winning that trophy, I just asked him if that’s the one that he really wanted.” He also mentioned that he expected Yamal to compete for the main Ballon d’Or, which went to England captain Harry Kane.

Henry expressed regret that Yamal did not win the top award, calling him an exceptional player. He stated, “He’s a hell of a player that I enjoy to watch.”

Additionally, Henry addressed another controversy regarding a joke made about his co-host, Kate Scott, and the pronunciation of the name Socrates. He clarified that the joke was planned and that Scott was aware of it. “Kate was with me on that joke,” he said, urging critics not to misinterpret their exchange.

Henry also congratulated Kane on his Ballon d’Or win, praising his hard work and dedication. He called Kane a “worthy winner” and reiterated his respect for both Kane and Yamal, as well as his co-host Scott.

In closing, Henry urged fans to relax and not read disrespect into his jokes, saying, “I love Harry Kane, I love Lamine Yamal. And I didn’t disrespect Kate.”