Thierry Henry faces backlash over Lamine Yamal exchange at 2026 Ballon d'Or

gulfnews.com —

Thierry Henry faced social media backlash after a playful remark to Lamine Yamal at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony, with some fans calling the exchange disrespectful toward the 19-year-old Barcelona forward. Henry, co-hosting the London event, asked Yamal after his third consecutive Kopa Trophy win, "Is this the one you really wanted?" The comment, widely seen as referencing the Ballon d'Or, drew laughter but also criticism online, though others defended it as dry humor consistent with Henry's pundit persona. Yamal finished third in the main Ballon d'Or voting behind winner Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe. Separately, Yamal stated that teammate Pau Cubarsi should have won the Kopa Trophy instead of him.


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