Humane Saka Wins Socrates Award
Arsenal and England winger Bukayo Saka took home the Sócrates Award at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Monday night. The award recognises his humanitarian work and charitable initiatives off the pitch. Nigerian artist Burna Boy presented it to him.
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Why He Won
The headline achievement is his partnership with the charity BigShoe. With the German foundation, Saka helped fund 120 operations for children in Nigeria, his parents’ homeland, treating conditions including hernias and brain tumours. His work has gone beyond medical care. The Ballon d’Or website also notes he donated over a thousand school uniforms to four schools in Ealing. He also gave over 100 pairs of football boots to the Street Soccer Academy, which tackles youth homelessness. The Ballon d’Or’s write-up also highlighted his stand against hate and racism on social media.
The Speech
Saka kept the focus off himself. He read aloud a letter from a 14-year-old Rwandan boy who began losing his sight at 12 and was helped by BigShoe’s eye care. He said he was accepting the award on behalf of all the children the charity has been able to help.
About The Award
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Introduced in 2022, the Sócrates Award honours players for social and humanitarian work. It is named after the late Brazil captain and political activist. Sadio Mané, Vinícius Júnior and Jenni Hermoso are among the previous winners. France Football and the organisation Peace and Sport present it.
The Bigger Picture
It was a quiet night for Arsenal overall. Saka was the only Gunner to receive an award at the ceremony. This honour is the kind that doesn’t depend on goals or assists.
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