Thierry Henry has been widely criticised for what he said to Lamine Yamal as he received the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London.

Football’s biggest stars were in attendance at the London Palladium Theatre as Harry Kane pipped Kylian Mbappé and Yamal to the men’s prize after a record-breaking 2025/26 campaign in which he helped Bayern win the domestic double and England finish third at the World Cup.

With Spain winning the World Cup and head coach Luis de la Fuente picking up the world’s best coach gong, three La Roja stars featured in the Ballon d’Or top 10: Yamal (third), Rodri (fourth) and Fabián Ruiz (10th).

Thierry Henry slammed for comment to Lamine Yamal

Despite missing out on the main prize, Yamal still had a successful evening and was presented with the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award by former Barcelona and Arsenal striker Henry, who was on presenting duties alongside Kate Scott.

Yamal, who also won the award in 2024 and 2025, was praised for saying, “This prize should have been for [Pau] Cubarsí,” while on stage at the ceremony. However, what Henry said to the winger has not gone down so well.

The Frenchman joked: “It’s your third one, right? But is it the one you really wanted to win?” Yamal laughed before replying, “No,” prompting laughter from members of the audience, including Barcelona chief Joan Laporta.

Fans on social media were not best pleased and criticised Henry.

One said: “Thierry Henry is not getting a presenting gig ever again. That is a shameful question to ask Yamal. Totally disrespectful.”

Another fumed: “Imagine being a grown man publicly humiliating a 19-year-old who's already finished second and third in the Ballon d'Or. The arrogance, bitterness and complete lack of class is genuinely sickening. Yamal smiling through that nonsense showed more maturity than Henry could ever dream of having.”

A third commented: “Thierry Henry’s joke to Lamine Yamal was unnecessary. He had just accepted another Young Player award and was clearly disappointed about the Ballon d’Or, so asking, ‘Is this the one you wanted tonight?’ felt like rubbing it in. Lamine still handled it perfectly and immediately shifted the attention to Cubarsí.”

A fourth weighed in: “Henry is savage. He hit Yamal where it hurts.”

Yamal was praised for shifting the attention to his Barcelona and Spain teammate Cubarsí.

“I would have liked to see my teammate [Pau] Cubarsí here because I think this prize should have been for him,” he explained. “He has been playing at an excellent level for some time. This is my third year up here for this prize. I would like to thank my club and my national team.”

“Speaking about this one specifically, this one should have been for Cubarsí.”

Men’s Ballon d’Or

1. Harry Kane
2. Kylian Mbappé
3. Lamine Yamal
4. Rodri
5. Lionel Messi
6. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
7. Ousmane Dembélé
8. Erling Haaland
9. Michael Olise
10. Fabián Ruiz

Women’s Ballon d’Or

1. Alexia Putellas
2. Ewa Pajor
3. Khadija Shaw
4. Melchie Dumornay
5. Patri Guijarro
6. Caroline Graham Hansen
7. Pernille Harder
8. Clàudia Pina
9. Alessia Russo
10. Temwa Chawinga

Men’s Kopa Trophy

1. Lamine Yamal
2. Pau Cubarsí
3. Warren Zaïre-Emery
4. Lennart Karl
5. Yan Diomande
6. Ayyoub Bouaddi
7. Kerim Alajbegović
8. Éli Junior Kroupi
9. Ibrahim Maza
10. Johan Manzambi

Men’s Yashin Trophy

1. Unai Simón
2. David Raya
3. Thibaut Courtois
4. Matvey Safonov
5. Emiliano Martínez
6. Vozinha
7. Joan García
8. Yassine Bounou
9. Édouard Mendy
10. Gregor Kobel