Arsenal and France icon Thierry Henry was at the forefront of the coverage for the Ballon d’Or on Monday as Harry Kane claimed the big prize but a few of his jokes have not gone down well
Kate Scott and Thierry Henry
Kate Scott and Thierry Henry presented the Ballon d'Or awards(Image: Getty Images)
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Thierry Henry has told his critics to ‘relax’ after a couple of his Ballon d’Or jokes fell flat this week. The former Arsenal forward was one of two hosts for the glitzy award ceremony on Monday as Harry Kane secured the trophy.
Henry was reunited with CBS colleague Kate Scott. But it wasn’t a smooth night for the 49-year-old, having garnered criticism for claiming that Lamine Yamal didn’t want the Kopa Trophy for the world’s best young player.
Henry has however now clarified his comments. Taking to Instagram, he said: “My people, this is Thierry once again. I've been seeing a lot of people talking about the Ballon d'Or night, so I want to clarify some stuff, what people got really excited for actually nothing.
"For 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.
“I am 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 one of the players that I will pay to watch. I love him.
“So I was just asking if it was the one that he really wants, because I knew that the real prize was coming after. Unfortunately, he didn't win it, because he's a hell of a player that I enjoy to watch."
Henry also spoke out on a joke that he made at Kate Scott’s expense, with Henry cheekily calling out her pronunciation of Socrates. And he has clarified that it was a jibe that was pre-written into the script.
"Kate was with me on that joke," Henry added. "And you can ask Kate, by the way. She did it on purpose, to say Socrates. And I had to say Socrates [different pronunciation].
Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal claimed the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d'Or(Image: Getty Images)
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"Again, that you didn't like the joke, I understand. But please stop saying that I disrespect Kate. I will never do that. And you can ask her people, she was in on the joke. She said Socrates on purpose. So please, stop inventing stories.
"And the last one, if you don't watch our show on CBS. Harry Kane, the other day after the game between Bayern Munich versus Arsenal, called me out for supporting Kylian Mbappe. So I told him the other day that although I'm French, I was always going to back up and support my fellow countryman.
“I just said to him [Kane], '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. I love Harry Kane, I love Lamine Yamal. And I didn't disrespect Kate. She was in on the joke with me. Have a good night, see you soon."