Thierry Henry has taken to social media to defend himself after a flurry of criticism regarding his conduct at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony. The former Arsenal striker, who co‑presented the awards with CBS Sports’ Kate Scott, faced backlash for remarks he made about Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal, the overall winner Harry Kane and the co‑host. In a series of posts, Henry dismissed the complaints as “people getting really excited about nothing” and clarified several points that had sparked debate.
During the event, Henry joked with Yamal about the Spanish forward’s third consecutive Young Player of the Year award, asking, “It’s your third one, right? But is it the one you really wanted to win?” The comment drew a noticeable reaction from the audience. Henry later explained that he was not “checking his ego” and reiterated his admiration for Yamal, describing him as a player he would love to watch. He also corrected Scott’s pronunciation of Brazilian legend Socrates’ name, insisting that the “Soc” nickname was part of a shared joke between the two hosts.
The Frenchman also addressed accusations that he had disrespected Scott. In his posts, Henry stated that she was “in on the joke herself” and urged people to stop “inventing stories.” He reminded viewers that he had no intention of disrespecting the co‑host and that the banter was mutual.
When it came to the Ballon d’Or winner, Henry praised Harry Kane as a “worthy winner,” calling him “Sir Harry Kane” in a nod to the World Cup. He also expressed support for fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, noting that he had always wanted a compatriot to win the top prize. “I said to Kane, ‘You are a worthy winner, you deserve it, you are the example that work ethic is a talent, working hard is a talent’,” Henry wrote. He concluded by urging the public to “relax” and to appreciate the achievements of both Kane and Yamal.
The ceremony itself saw Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka receive the Socrates Award for his humanitarian efforts. As the football world moves on from the night’s controversies, Henry’s social media response aims to quell the storm and reaffirm his respect for the players and colleagues involved.