Henry breaks silence over Yamal joke after backlash

Former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry has defended his controversial joke about Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, insisting that he never intended to disrespect the Spanish star.
Henry, who co-hosted Monday’s ceremony with Kate Scott, faced criticism from football fans after jokingly questioning whether Yamal really wanted the Kopa Trophy, an award presented to the world’s best young player.
Yamal won the trophy for the third consecutive time, but Henry’s remarks sparked a backlash, with some fans interpreting the joke as a suggestion that the 18-year-old was too concerned about individual honours.
Responding to the criticism in a video sha...