Thierry Henry Defends Ballon d'Or Hosting Amid Backlash

Thierry Henry has responded to criticism of his performance as a host at the recent Ballon d'Or ceremony, addressing backlash over an interaction with Lamine Yamal and a moment involving his co-presenter Kate Scott.

During the event, Henry questioned whether the Kopa Trophy, awarded to young talent, was what Lamine Yamal truly desired. Yamal, a player Henry expressed admiration for, responded by suggesting his teammate Pau Cubarsi would have been a more deserving recipient. Later, Henry corrected Scott's pronunciation of the name Socrates, clarifying it as 'Socrates' and not 'Socrates'.

Henry took to social media to defend his actions, stating that his intention with Yamal was not to question his ego but to playfully acknowledge the teenager's ambition for a more significant award. "We all know what he wanted, he didn’t get it," Henry said, referring to the main Ballon d'Or award. He added, "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."

Regarding his interaction with Scott, Henry explained that the pronunciation of Socrates was a deliberate joke that Scott was aware of. "She did it on purpose, to say Socrates, and I had to say, Socrates," Henry stated. "She was in on the joke with me, she did Socrates on purpose, and I said Socrates, so please stop inventing stories."

Henry also addressed comments made to Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane after his acceptance speech, where Henry told the England captain that he was "always going to back up" his fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé. Henry clarified that this remark was in response to Kane teasing him about his support for Mbappé in a prior interview and aimed to provide context for his national allegiance. "I just told him the other day, I’m French, and I was always going to back up and support my fellow countrymen," Henry explained. He also affirmed Kane's deserving win, calling him "a worthy winner" and an "example that work ethic is a talent."

Henry concluded his remarks by urging the public to "relax," reiterating his admiration for both Kane and Yamal, and emphasizing that he did not disrespect Kate Scott. The former Arsenal legend stated that Scott was a willing participant in the joke about Socrates.