Thierry Henry responds to backlash following Ballon d'Or ceremony

French football legend Thierry Henry has addressed the backlash he received following his hosting duties at the star-studded Ballon d'Or ceremony alongside Kate Scott. In a follow-up video, the former striker clarified two key moments that sparked debate online: his interaction with Lamine Yamal and his exchange with Scott during the presentation of the Socrates Award.

The first controversial moment came after Yamal claimed the Kopa Trophy for a third consecutive year. Henry asked the young Barcelona star if that was really the accolade he was aiming for, hinting at the main Ballon d'Or award that had eluded him. Some viewers interpreted the remark as disrespectful and an attempt to rattle the teenager, while others saw it merely as light-hearted banter.

Henry explained his reasoning by noting that Yamal had already picked up the Kopa Trophy for a third time, while the premier individual prize was still to be presented. He acknowledged that his sense of humor might not have appealed to everyone, but insisted he is a huge admirer of Yamal's talent and loves watching him play. The Frenchman even emphasized that the Barcelona star is the kind of player he would gladly pay to watch.

Henry's appreciation for Yamal's tactical maturity predates the gala. Earlier in the year, the former goalscorer highlighted a moment from the Euro 2024 semi-final between Spain and France, where the teenager opted to slow down a Spanish counter-attack rather than take on defenders alone. According to Henry, that decision showed just how well the player reads his team's needs at any given moment.

The second wave of criticism was triggered by Henry's on-stage exchange with Scott during the presentation of the Socrates Award, named after the legendary Brazilian midfielder. The Frenchman joked about the Ancient Greek philosopher of the same name and playfully corrected his co-host's pronunciation.

Some viewers deemed the interaction rude. Writer Andrew Downie, author of a biography on Sócrates, even pointed out that Scott had actually pronounced the name correctly.

In his video, Henry clarified that the presenter was fully in on the joke and was playing along with him. While he accepted that people have every right not to find it funny, he urged critics to drop the accusations of disrespect: "I would never do that," he stated, reiterating that he had no intention of offending either Scott or Yamal.

Henry remains one of French football's greatest icons. A 1998 World Cup winner and Euro 2000 champion with Les Bleus, he enjoyed glittering spells with Arsenal and Barcelona, scoring a club-record 228 goals for the London side.

Following his playing career, he moved into coaching and led France's Olympic team to the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Games.

Henry currently works as a pundit for CBS Sports, regularly covering the Champions League alongside Kate Scott, Jamie Carragher, and Micah Richards. It is from this expert vantage point and his close observation of the Spanish prodigy's rise that his profound respect for Yamal's ability stems.