Henry Defends Yamal and Scott Exchanges at Ballon d’Or

Thierry Henry has defended his exchanges with Lamine Yamal and presenter Kate Scott at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, saying his remarks were jokes and not intended to disrespect either of them. His response followed criticism of two onstage moments during the event in London. In a video posted to Instagram, Henry said he was not trying to challenge Yamal’s ego when he asked whether the Barcelona forward’s third consecutive Kopa Trophy was the award he really wanted. Henry said he knew the Ballon d’Or winner had not yet been announced and described himself as a fan of Yamal, whom he said he enjoyed watching. Yamal received the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player, before the ceremony announced the Ballon d’Or winner. Henry asked whether it was the trophy Yamal really wanted, prompting laughter and a brief response from the player. Footage and reports describe Yamal smiling or laughing, but do not establish how he privately felt about the exchange. Some viewers criticized Henry’s question as putting Yamal in an uncomfortable position or diminishing his achievement. Others considered it lighthearted banter. The exchange drew attention in part because Yamal missed out on the...