Former France and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has defended himself against criticism over his conduct while hosting the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, insisting that people have made too much of his remarks about Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, overall winner Harry Kane and co-host Kate Scott.

Henry, who presented the prestigious awards alongside his CBS Sports colleague Scott, addressed the controversy in a social media video on Wednesday, dismissing some of the reactions as “people getting really excited about nothing”.

The 49-year-old came under fire for several moments during Monday’s ceremony, including a joke directed at Yamal, his correction of Scott’s pronunciation of Brazilian football legend Socrates’ name and his admission that he had hoped fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappe would win the main award ahead of Kane.

One of the most talked-about moments came when Henry teased Yamal over his third consecutive young player of the year award, asking the Barcelona forward: “It’s your third one, right? But is it the one you really wanted to win?”

The comment drew a reaction from the audience, with some viewers interpreting it as a suggestion that Yamal was more satisfied with winning the young player award than the main Ballon d’Or prize.

However, Henry rejected suggestions that he was attempting to undermine the teenager, insisting that he holds the Barcelona star in high regard and would happily pay to watch him play.

“I’m a big fan of Lamine Yamal. I wasn’t checking his ego at all  that ; you didn’t like the joke, I can understand,” Henry said.

“But don’t do that; he’s one of the players I’d pay to watch. I love him.”

The former Barcelona forward also responded to criticism surrounding his exchange with Scott over the pronunciation of Socrates, the legendary Brazilian midfielder. Some viewers interpreted Henry’s correction as disrespectful to his co-host, but he insisted that the exchange was a shared joke rather than an attempt to embarrass her.

“You didn’t like the joke, I understand, but please stop saying I disrespected Kate,” he 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.”

Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka received the Socrates Award in recognition of his humanitarian and charitable work during the ceremony.

Henry also addressed his support for Mbappe in the Ballon d’Or race, explaining that his preference for his fellow Frenchman was influenced by his nationality rather than any lack of respect for Kane’s achievements.

“I’m French and I was always going to back up and support my fellow countryman,” he said.

Despite backing Mbappe, Henry insisted that Kane was a deserving winner and praised the England captain’s dedication, consistency and work ethic.

“I said to [Kane], ‘You are a worthy winner, you deserve it, you are the example that work ethic is a talent, working hard is a talent’,” Henry said.

“Well done, Harry Kane and I call him Sir Harry Kane since the World Cup.”

Henry’s comments sought to draw a clear distinction between supporting a compatriot and questioning another player’s achievements. He maintained that his admiration for Kane and Yamal remained unchanged despite the criticism surrounding his hosting style.

Concluding his response, the former Arsenal captain urged critics and social media users to move beyond the controversy, reiterating that he had not intended to offend anyone during the ceremony.

“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,” he said.

The controversy has added another talking point to a ceremony already dominated by Kane’s triumph and the debate surrounding football’s biggest individual award. While Henry’s remarks have divided opinion among fans, the former France international has made his position clear, insisting that his comments were intended as humour and that the reactions to his hosting style have been blown out of proportion.