Thierry Henry explains Yamal joke after fans accuse him of disrespect

Thierry Henry said his joke about Lamine Yamal at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony was not intended to disrespect the Barcelona forward. He had asked whether Yamal, who won the Kopa Trophy for a third consecutive time, really wanted that award because he expected the young player to compete for the main prize, which went to Harry Kane. Henry also said co-host Kate Scott knew about their joke concerning the pronunciation of the late Brazilian footballer Socrates’s name, and denied trying to embarrass her. He congratulated Kane as a worthy winner and praised his work ethic.