Thierry Henry to Host 2026 Ballon d'Or and Wins Prestigious Football Award

Thierry Henry has been confirmed as a co-host for the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony, a major broadcasting coup for the CBS Sports pundit. The Arsenal legend will share the stage with Kate Scott at the London Palladium event, which crowns the world's best player. This high-profile role headlines a busy period for Henry, who has also been honoured with a significant charity award and fronted a major new advertising campaign.

Henry Secures Top Hosting Role for Ballon d'Or

France Football and UEFA have officially named Thierry Henry and Kate Scott as the hosts for the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony. The event is scheduled for Monday, October 27, 2026, at the London Palladium. This places the former French striker at the very centre of football's biggest individual prize night, a role that follows his established position as a lead analyst for CBS Sports's Champions League coverage. His involvement has already sparked on-air banter with contenders like England captain Harry Kane.

Kane Responds to Henry's Ballon d'Or Preferences

Ahead of the ceremony, Harry Kane playfully referenced Henry's declared loyalties after Bayern Munich's 2-2 Champions League draw with Arsenal. Henry had previously stated he would always support a French player for the award, naming Kylian Mbappé as his favourite. Speaking to Henry on CBS after the match, Kane retorted, "I was watching a few weeks ago, don't worry." The striker is a leading candidate after a 73-goal season for club and country, competing with Mbappé and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal.

Henry Honoured with Legends of Football Award

On October 6, 2026, Thierry Henry and former England international Karen Carney received the Legends of Football Award at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London. The event celebrated its 30th anniversary, raising funds for the Nordoff & Robbins music therapy charity. Henry told attendees he was "incredibly honoured" by the recognition. The award has raised over £9 million since 1996, with past winners including Pelé, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Arsène Wenger.

Arsenal Icon Becomes Face of Samsung Foldables

Henry embarked on a new commercial venture on October 7, 2026, becoming the face of Samsung's "Welcome to Foldables" campaign across Europe. He promotes the Galaxy Z Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, and Flip8 smartphones. This deal marks a shift for the brand, as Henry is the only retired footballer on their ambassador roster and the first to transition from promoting Samsung TVs to its mobile products. His campaign targets a key European market for the tech giant's latest devices.

Henry's Past Praise for Wayne Rooney Resurfaces

As the football world discusses modern greats, Henry's own past analysis of legendary forwards has been recalled. In a 2015 column, he highlighted the extraordinary consistency of Wayne Rooney, urging young English talents of that era like Raheem Sterling to learn from the Manchester United star. Henry argued that maintaining a top level for over a decade, as Rooney did, was a rare and remarkable achievement in the sport.

• Thierry Henry will co-host the 2026 Ballon d'Or on October 27 with Kate Scott.
• He received the 2026 Legends of Football Award on October 6 for charity work.
• Henry fronts Samsung's European foldable phone campaign launched on October 7.
• His on-air Ballon d'Or comments prompted a light-hearted response from Harry Kane.