Former French international Thierry Henry, who presided over the 2026 Ballon d'Or gala in London alongside British journalist KateScott, was involved in a controversy after a phrase directed at the young FCBarcelona winger, LamineYamal, who received the Kopa trophy for the third consecutive time. During the ceremony, Henry jokingly commented: “Is this the award you really wanted tonight?”, causing some viewers to interpret the phrase as a mockery of the lack of a Ballon d'Or. The immediate reaction was surprise and, in some cases, indignation, as the phrase seemed to detract from Yamal's achievement.
Given the growing discussion on social networks and the press, Henry published a video in which he explains his intention. In the message, the former striker clarifies that his comment was not intended to hurt Yamal's ego or belittle his success. “I wasn't trying to hurt his ego at all; I just thought that since it was his third time winning the trophy, I would ask him if that was the one he really wanted,” he explained. According to him, the phrase was intended to provoke laughter among those present and recognize that, although Yamal had won the Kopa, the Ballon d'Or was still a pending goal.
The footballer also highlighted his admiration for the young talent. "I'm a big fan of Lamine Yamal, I wasn't trying to hurt his ego at all. I understand that you didn't like the joke, but please don't do that. He's one of the players I would pay to see play, I love him," he added. Henry stressed that his intention was to celebrate Yamal's achievement and recognize its potential, even if the phrase has been misinterpreted.
The controversy arose at a time when the 2026 Ballon d'Or was held in an atmosphere of celebration and recognition of the best talents in world football. Yamal, who has been one of Barcelona's most outstanding figures this season, was grateful for the Kopa award and for the attention of his colleagues. The reaction from fans and the football community has been mixed, with some defending the joke as a friendly gesture and others calling for greater sensitivity in public comments.
As for next steps, Henry has asked the media and fans to understand his intent and not to misinterpret the phrase as criticism. It is expected that the Ballon d'Or celebration will continue with the recognition of the players who have stood out this season, while the young Lamine Yamal will continue to establish himself as one of the emerging talents of European football.