Henry: I did not mean to offend Yamal, he is a player I pay to watch

Thierry Henry, the former star of FC Barcelona and Arsenal, has clarified the comments that sparked controversy during the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony in London, after he directed a sarcastic question to Lamine Yamal, the winger of FC Barcelona, following his third consecutive win of the Kopa trophy.

Thierry Henry's comment, which he made while hosting alongside British journalist Keith Scott, has sparked criticism from some followers after he asked: "Is this the award you really wanted tonight?" This was interpreted as a mockery of his failure to win the Ballon d'Or.

In a video shared by the Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo", Henry clarified his intention behind the comment, stating that he did not mean to offend the Barcelona star.

Henry said: "I saw a lot of people talking about the Ballon d'Or night, so I wanted to clarify a few things for those who got upset for no reason; I never tried to hurt his feelings or touch his pride at all."

"I just thought that since it was the third time he has won the award, I would ask him if it was really the award he wanted, and I managed to get a laugh from those present, as we all know the award he wanted, but unfortunately he did not win it."

The French star continued: "I am a huge fan of Lamine Yamal, and I never tried to hurt his feelings at all. I understand that some people didn't like the joke, but please don't do that; he is one of the players I would pay to watch, as I love him a lot and enjoy seeing him play."

Henry concluded his explanation by saying: "I knew that the winner of the award would be announced later, but unfortunately, he did not win it. He is an amazing player whom I enjoy watching."