Thierry Henry clarifies his Lamine Yamal comments after Ballon d’Or criticism

· Yahoo Sports

Spain and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal speaks after winning the Trophy for the Men's Young Talent of the Year during the 2026 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Palladium Theatre in London on October 26, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

Thierry Henry has clarified his comments after coming in for some criticism for a question directed at Lamine Yamal during Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.

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Yamal picked up the Kopa Trophy for the third time, with Henry asking the teenager: “That’s your third one, right? But is it the one that you really wanted tonight?”

The comments did not go down well with some people and Henry has now responded in a post on social media.

“I want to clarify some stuff as some people got really excited for actually nothing. With Lamine Yamal, it wasn’t about checking his ego at all. I simply thought that, since it was the third time he had won that trophy, I was just asking him if it was the one he truly wanted,” he said.

“We all knew what he wanted. Unfortunately, he didn’t get it. I’m a big fan of Lamine Yamal. I wasn’t checking his ego at all. If you don’t like the joke, I can understand that. But please, don’t do that; he really is one of those players I will pay to watch—I love him.

“I was just asking him if it was the one he really wants, because I knew the real prize was coming after —which, unfortunately, he didn’t win. He’s a hell of a player; I love watching him, and I would pay to see him play.”

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