Thierry Henry has broken his silence with a three-minute video responding to criticism following several eyebrow-raising incidents during Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Henry, arguably the greatest player in Premier League history who starred for Arsenal and La Liga giants Barcelona during his illustrious playing career, was co-host of the glitzy event in London alongside his CBS Sports colleague Kate Scott.
The 49-year-old was slammed by football fans for a comment he made to Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who was hoping to become the youngest-ever Ballon d’Or winner but missed out to Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane.
Henry was also criticised for telling Kane he thought Real Madrid and France star Kylian Mbappe deserved this year’s Ballon d’Or.
And he was lambasted for correcting Kate Scott on the pronunciation of Brazilian legend Socrates.
One clip showing the seemingly awkward on-stage incident, with the caption “this was very unnecessary of Thierry Henry”, immediately went viral on X (Twitter).
Speaking to the audience, Scott said: “We’ll also give out the Socrates award…”
She was interrupted mid-sentence by Henry, who said: “What do you mean ’Socrates’? We don’t have any philosophers here, it’s ’Socrates’. We’re not going to debate it”.
Scott replied: “‘Socrates’, excuse my pronunciation, everybody. Trust Thierry to get it right.” Watch the clip below:
Henry Reponds to Ballon d'Or Ceremony Controversy
REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Following a wave of backlash after the ceremony, Henry posted a video on Instagram, explaining exactly what happened with each incident.
He began by saying: “I’ve been seeing a lot of people talking about the Ballon d’Or night, so I want to clarify some stuff for some people that got really excited for actually nothing.”
UCL winners 1993-2002
Type a club name to reveal each Champions League winner
The first 10 finals after the European Cup was rebranded as the Champions League, 1993 to 2002
Henry on Lamine Yamal Incident
Left image: REUTERS/Manon Cruz Right image: Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
On the incident with Lamine Yamal, Henry said: "First and foremost, with Lamine Yamal: I wasn’t checking his ego at all. I just thought that as the third time that he’s winning that trophy, I just asked him if that’s the one that he really wanted, and I brought out a laugh out of people. We all know what he wanted. Unfortunately, he didn’t get it.
“I’m a big fan of Lamine Yamal. I wasn’t checking his ego whatsoever. That you didn’t like the joke, I can understand, but please don’t do that. He’s actually one of the players that I will pay to watch. I love him.
“I was just asking if that’s the one that he really wants, because I know the real prize was coming after, and unfortunately he didn’t win it, because he’s a hell of a player that I enjoy to watch and I will pay to watch him.”
Henry on Kate Scott Incident
REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
On the incident with Kate Scott, Henry continued: "Now let’s move on to Kate. Kate was with me on that joke, and you can ask Kate. She did it on purpose to say ‘Socrates’, and I had to say ‘Socrates’.
“Again, that you didn’t like the joke, I understand, but please stop saying I disrespected Kate. I will never do that. And you can ask her, people. She was on the joke with me. She said ‘Socrates’ on purpose and I say ‘Socrates’. So please stop inventing stories.”
Scott replied to Henry’s video on Instagram: “100%… no disrespect to speak of.”
X (Twitter)
Henry on Harry Kane Incident
Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
And on the incident with Kane, Henry added: “If you don’t watch our show on CBS, Harry Kane the other day after the game Bayern Munich versus Arsenal called me out for supporting Kylian Mbappe. So I just told him the other day, although I’m French and I was always going to back up and support my fellow countrymen, I just said to him: you are a worthy winner. You deserve it. You are the example of what I always call ‘work ethic is a talent, working hard is a talent’. I said: ‘You are a worthy winner, well done, Harry Kane.’ And I call him ‘Sir Harry Kane’ since the World Cup.
"So please, people out there, relax, relax. I love Harry Kane, love Lamine Yamal, and I didn’t disrespect Kate. She was on a joke with me.” Watch Henry’s reply in full below:
Kane became the first Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001. The 33-year-old finished ahead of Mbappe in second place and Lamine Yamal in third.