Thierry Henry responds to criticism as Ballon d’Or presenter after Kate Scott and Lamine Yamal ‘jokes’

Thierry Henry has clarified confusion surrounding his performance as Ballon d’Or presenter after attracting criticism for what he maintains were “jokes” surrounding co-presenter Kate Scott, Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal.

The legendary France striker hosted ceremony for the prestigious awards in London with his CBS Sports colleague Scott, with the Champions League show’s style translating to the stage.

But after correcting Scott’s pronunciation of Brazilian legend Sócrates, for which an award is named after, joking with Yamal about winning a third successive young player of the year award, despite being in contention for the main men’s award and being honest about his desire for compatriot Kylian Mbappe to beat out eventual winner Harry Kane for the main award, fans on social media criticised the former Arsenal forward’s performance.

“I’ve been seeing a lot of people talking about the Ballon d’Or night and I wanted to clarify some stuff about some people getting really excited about nothing,”

“First of all, Lamine Yamal, I wasn’t checking his ego at all, I just thought as the third time he’s winning that trophy, I asked him if that was the one he really wanted, and I brought out a laugh from people, we don’t know what he wanted, he didn’t get it, I’m a big fan of Lamine Yamal, I wasn’t checking his ego at all, that you didn’t like the joke, I can understand.

But don’t do that, he’s one of the players I’d pay to watch, I love him, I was just asking him, if it’s the one he really wants as the real prize was coming up, unfortunately he didn’t win it, because he’s a hell of a player I’d pay to watch.

“Now let’s move on to Kate, she was in on the joke, and you can ask Kate, by the way, she did it on purpose, to say Soc, and I had to say, again, you didn’t like the joke, I understand, but please stop saying I disrespected Kate, I will never do that, and you can ask her, she was on the joke with me, she did Soc on purpose, and I said Soc, so please stop inventing stories.

Hosts Kate Scott and Thierry Henry on stage during the 2026 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony (AFP/Getty)

“And the last one, if you don’t watch our show on CBS, Harry Kane, the other day, after Bayern Munich vs Arsenal, called me out for supporting Kylian Mbappe. So I just told him the other day, I’m French, and I was always going to back up and support my fellow countrymen, I said to him, you are a worth winner, you deserve it, you are the example that work ethic is a talent, working hard is a talent, I said you are a worthy winner, well done, Harry Kane, and I call him Sir Harry Kane since the World Cup.

“So please, people out there, relax, relax, I love Harry Kane, I love Lamine Yamal, and I didn’t disrespect Kate, she was on the joke with me, once again, have a good night.”