Former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry has faced backlash over how he addressed Kate Scott, his co-presenter at Monday night’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.
The pair fronted the 2026 awards gala at London’s Palladium Theatre.
Henry’s awkward tone surfaced early in the two-hour event when he needled Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal about missing out on the Ballon d’Or, then pulled Scott up on her pronunciation of Brazil legend Socrates, the name attached to the award recognising a footballer’s humanitarian work.
However, Andrew Downie, a Scottish author and Brazilian football specialist who wrote “Doctor Socrates: Footballer, Philosopher, Legend,” condemned Henry’s conduct toward Scott.
“Thierry Henry is rude and incorrect. She pronounced it properly. I know, I wrote a whole book about the man,” Downie posted on X.