Thierry Henry explains Lamine Yamal Ballon d'Or joke and Harry Kane remarks

Arsenal fable Thierry Henry has defended his arguable speech with Barcelona prima Lamine Yamal during the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony, insisting that his gag astir the teenager's ambitions was ne'er intended to embarrass him oregon question his attitude.

The erstwhile France planetary faced disapproval connected societal media pursuing Monday's ceremonial successful London, wherever helium presented the awards alongside CBS Sports workfellow Kate Scott.

Henry attracted attraction for respective moments during the evening, including his question to Yamal aft the Barcelona winger collected his 3rd consecutive Kopa Trophy.

The 19-year-old was besides among the starring contenders for the men's Ballon d'Or, which yet went to Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane.

Henry's proposition that Yamal mightiness person preferred the main prize prompted an awkward speech connected stage, with immoderate viewers interpreting the remark arsenic an effort to enactment the youngster successful his place.

The erstwhile Arsenal skipper has present addressed the disapproval successful a video posted connected Instagram, explaining that helium had intended to marque a light-hearted reflection astir Yamal's ambitions.

He besides utilized the accidental to clarify his interactions with Scott and Kane, insisting that each 3 incidents had been misunderstood.

Henry denies questioning Yamal's ego aft Kopa Trophy joke

The contention began erstwhile Yamal stepped guardant to person the Kopa Trophy, recognising him arsenic the outstanding young subordinate of the 2025-26 season.

Having already won the grant successful 2024 and 2025, the Barcelona guardant became a three-time recipient earlier his 20th birthday.

Henry congratulated him earlier asking whether different Kopa Trophy was truly the grant helium had hoped to cod that evening.

"That's your 3rd one, right? But is it the 1 you truly wanted tonight?" the erstwhile France striker asked.

The question drew laughter from the audience, portion Yamal appeared momentarily amazed earlier responding that helium wanted to triumph each the disposable awards.

With Kane subsequently claiming the main Ballon d'Or, the speech attracted further attraction online.

However, Henry rejected suggestions that his question had been designed to humble the teenager.

"I wasn't checking his ego astatine all," helium insisted successful his Instagram video.

"I conscionable thought, arsenic it was the 3rd clip helium was winning that trophy, I'd inquire him if that was the 1 helium truly wanted."

The 49-year-old acknowledged that immoderate viewers mightiness not person appreciated the humour, but stressed that his admiration for Yamal had ne'er been successful doubt.

"I'm a large instrumentality of Lamine Yamal," Henry continued.

"He's 1 of the players I'd wage to watch. I emotion him."

Henry explained that helium had simply been referring to the anticipation of Yamal winning the evening's main award, alternatively than questioning the player's quality oregon maturity.

The Barcelona prima enjoyed different outstanding run successful 2025-26, helping Spain triumph the World Cup and establishing himself among the starring contenders for the Ballon d'Or.

Although helium yet missed retired to Kane, his 3rd Kopa Trophy further underlined his singular achievements astatine specified a young age.

Kate Scott backs Henry arsenic Arsenal fable praises Ballon d'Or victor Kane

Henry besides addressed disapproval surrounding an speech with Scott during the presumption of the Socrates Award, which was won by Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka.

The erstwhile striker had corrected his co-presenter's pronunciation of the sanction of Brazilian shot icon Socrates, prompting accusations from immoderate viewers that helium had been unnecessarily dismissive towards her.

Henry insisted that the enactment had been arranged beforehand and that Scott had deliberately pronounced the sanction otherwise to acceptable up the joke.

"Kate was successful connected the joke," helium explained.

"You didn't similar the joke, I understand, but delight halt saying I disrespected Kate. I would ne'er bash that."

Scott subsequently supported Henry's mentation successful the comments connected his Instagram post, confirming that she had not felt disrespected by her colleague.

The Frenchman past turned his attraction to Kane, whose Ballon d'Or triumph had provided different talking constituent during the ceremony.

Henry had openly supported compatriot Kylian Mbappe successful the contention for the award, starring immoderate viewers to question his absorption erstwhile the England skipper was announced arsenic the winner.

However, the erstwhile Arsenal guardant explained that his penchant for Mbappe was based connected nationalist loyalty alternatively than immoderate deficiency of appreciation for Kane.

He besides revealed that the Bayern Munich striker had antecedently teased him astir his enactment for Mbappe pursuing a Champions League gathering with Arsenal.

"I'm French, and I was ever going to enactment my chap countryman," Henry explained.

Nevertheless, helium made it wide that helium considered Kane a deserving winner.

"You are a worthy winner. You merit it," Henry recalled telling the England captain.

He besides praised Kane's professionalism, describing him arsenic an illustration of however dedication and perseverance tin beryllium conscionable arsenic invaluable arsenic earthy ability.

Henry added that helium had been calling the erstwhile Tottenham Hotspur striker "Sir Harry Kane" since the World Cup, reflecting his admiration for the England international.

The Arsenal fable concluded his connection by urging supporters not to construe the incidents arsenic idiosyncratic disputes, reiterating his affection for Yamal and Kane and his respect for Scott.

His explanations came 2 days aft Kane's Ballon d'Or triumph, which crowned a singular twelvemonth for the England skipper and ensured that the Premier League's erstwhile starring goalscorer received football's astir prestigious idiosyncratic honour.