Ballon d'Or 2026: Thierry Henry Defends His Hosting Performance After Backlash in London

Thierry Henry addressed the camera on Instagram to refute accusations of arrogance and disrespect that followed his role as master of ceremonies at the 2026 Ballon d’Or, held in London. The former France striker dismissed three specific controversies that arose on social media in the hours following the ceremony.

The first controversy involved Lamine Yamal. When presenting the Kopa Trophy to the Barcelona prodigy, rewarding the season’s best young player, Henry quipped: “Is that the one you really wanted?” — an allusion to the Ballon d’Or for which the Spaniard was also nominated. Some online users saw this as an attempt to belittle the player. Henry dismissed the interpretation: “I was absolutely not trying to put his ego in its place.” He added: “I’m a huge fan. He’s one of those players I’d be willing to pay for a ticket just to watch play. People have the right not to like the joke, but don’t go telling that kind of story.”

The second point of friction: an exchange with his co-presenter, British journalist Kate Scott. When discussing the Socrates Prize, Scott mispronounced the name, triggering an ironic correction from Henry. Branded “sexist” and “humiliating” by part of the online audience, the exchange was actually the result of prepared complicity, according to Henry: “Kate was in on the joke. She did it on purpose so I could correct her. Stop saying I was disrespectful to Kate. I would never do that. Stop making up stories.”

Finally, Henry returned to his tribute to the evening’s big winner, Harry Kane. He recalled that the English striker had recently criticized him for supporting Kylian Mbappé. “Even though I’m French and have always supported my compatriots, I simply told him: you’re a deserving winner. You perfectly embody what I’ve always called work ethic: it’s a talent, working hard is a talent.”

The clarification from the 1998 World Cup winner doesn’t necessarily close the debate, but it clearly draws the line he intends to defend: assumed humor, never contempt.