French legend Thierry Henry has addressed the backlash following his on-stage exchange with Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal during the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona forward faced criticism on social media after interviewing Yamal on stage when the Spanish international claimed the Kopa Trophy for the world’s best young player.
‘Bullying’ Yamal
During the presentation, Henry asked Yamal if the Ballon d’Or was the trophy he really wanted.
The line of questioning sparked strong reactions online, with some viewers accusing Henry of put-downs toward the teenager, while others viewed it as light-hearted banter between two elite players.
Addressing the controversy in a video shared after the event on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the CBS Sports analyst clarified his intentions and insisted there was no disrespect meant toward the Barcelona prodigy.
PHOTO/https://www.facebook.com/uefaeuro
Henry explained that his question stemmed from the fact that Yamal has consistently operated at the highest level of world football.
“I have seen a lot of people talking about the Ballon d’Or night, Henry said. I want to clarify some stuff for people getting excited about nothing. With Lamine, I was not getting an easy go at him. I just asked him if that Ballon d’Or was the trophy he really wanted, because that is the prize he is coming after.
Respect for Yamal
The World Cup winner added that while he understands some viewers may not have appreciated the humour, he holds the young winger in the highest regard.
“We know who he is, and I am a big fan of him,” Henry stated. “I was not picking on him. That some did not get the joke I can understand, but please do not make it something it is not. He is one of the players I would pay to watch, and I love watching him play,” he added.
The foregoing comes after French football superstars Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele have also been accused of disrespecting Harry Kane after failing to stand to shake his hand before he won the Ballon d’Or.
During the ceremony at the London Palladium, Kane was seen greeting Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain star Dembele in the theatre, while they paid little attention to him.
Both French players stood firmly in their seats as Kane crouched to grasp their hands, with Mbappe in particular looking elsewhere before the Englishman grabbed his attention.
