Thierry Henry has defended himself after criticism of how he hosted Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony. The former France and Arsenal forward, who finished runner-up to Pavel Nedved in the 2003 Ballon d’Or, said people were “getting really excited about nothing”.
Henry came under fire for remarks he made towards Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, overall winner Harry Kane and co-host Kate Scott during the night. He presented the ceremony alongside his CBS Sports colleague Scott.
Teasing Lamine Yamal
On the night, Henry joked with Lamine Yamal about winning a third successive young player of the year award. He asked the Spaniard: “It’s your third one, right? But is it the one you really wanted to win?” The remark drew an audible reaction from the audience in attendance.
Speaking in a social media video on Wednesday, Henry said he was a “big fan” of the young player and that he was not “checking his ego at all”. “That you didn’t like the joke, I can understand,” he said. “But don’t do that, he’s one of the players I’d pay to watch, I love him.”
Correcting Kate Scott
Henry also corrected Scott’s pronunciation of the name of Brazil legend Socrates. He responded to criticism of that moment by insisting Scott was in on the joke.
“You didn’t like the joke, I understand, but please stop saying I disrespected Kate,” Henry said. “I will never do that and you can ask her, she was on the joke with me. She did Soc on purpose, and I said Soc, so please stop inventing stories.”
Backing Mbappe and praising Kane
Henry admitted he wanted fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappe to beat Kane to the top prize. He explained his stance by saying: “I’m French and I was always going to back up and support my fellow countryman.”
Henry also described Kane as a “worthy winner” of the Ballon d’Or. “I said to Harry Kane, ‘You are a worthy winner, you deserve it, you are the example that work ethic is a talent, working hard is a talent’,” he said. “Well done, Harry Kane, and I call him Sir Harry Kane since the World Cup.”
Henry closed by urging people to relax. “So please, people out there, relax, relax. I love Harry Kane, I love Lamine Yamal and I didn’t disrespect Kate. She was on the joke with me.”