By Basant El-Faramawy
Thierry Henry has responded to criticism of his hosting performance at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony in London, insisting that his on-stage remarks were intended as jokes and were taken out of context.
Clarifying the controversy
The former France and Arsenal striker co-hosted the event with CBS Sports colleague Kate Scott. Social media users criticized Henry for correcting Scott's pronunciation of Brazilian legend Sócrates, for joking with Lamine Yamal about winning a third consecutive young player award, and for stating his preference for compatriot Kylian Mbappe to win the main prize over eventual winner Harry Kane.
Henry's explanation
In a video statement, Henry said he wanted to "clarify some stuff about some people getting really excited about nothing." Regarding Yamal, he explained he merely asked the teenager if the young player award was the one he really wanted, knowing the main award was coming up. He emphasized he is a big fan of Yamal and did not intend to check his ego.
Interaction with Kate Scott
Henry said Scott was "in on the joke" and deliberately mispronounced "Sócrates" as "Soc," prompting his correction. He urged critics to stop inventing stories of disrespect, noting they can ask Scott directly.
Comments on Harry Kane
Addressing the Kane situation, Henry referenced a previous exchange after a Bayern Munich vs Arsenal match where Kane called him out for supporting Mbappe. Henry said he told Kane he would always back his fellow Frenchman, but called Kane a "worthy winner" and "Sir Harry Kane," praising his work ethic.
Henry concluded by asking people to relax, reiterating his admiration for both Kane and Yamal and denying any disrespect toward Scott.
