Arsenal and England forward Bukayo Saka received the 2026 Sócrates Award during Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony at the Palladium Theatre in London, in recognition of his ongoing humanitarian work.
Saka honoured at Ballon d’Or event
Nigerian music star Burna Boy handed the 25-year-old winger the prize, which celebrates football figures using their platform and financial support to make a difference away from the game.
Created by France Football in partnership with Peace and Sport in 2022, the award takes its name from the late Brazil great Sócrates, who was widely known not only for his football ability but also for campaigning for democracy and social causes.
Presented as part of the Ballon d’Or ceremony, the distinction can be awarded to male or female players for humanitarian initiatives and efforts to encourage social inclusion beyond football.
Award’s previous recipients
- Sadio Mané was the inaugural winner in 2022 after financing a hospital and a school in Bambali, his home village in Senegal.
- Vinícius Júnior collected the honour in 2023 for his support of children’s education and his anti-racism work.
- Jenni Hermoso won the prize in 2024.
- The Xana Foundation, established by Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique in memory of his daughter, was recognised in 2025.
Support for children and displaced families
Saka was recognised for the work he has carried out alongside his family and the German charity BigShoe, which delivers medical treatment and assistance to vulnerable children and families.
- In 2022, he paid for 120 operations for children in Kano, Nigeria, the country from which his parents originate. The procedures included treatment for hernias and brain tumours.
- He supported surgery for a further 100 children across Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania in 2023, including eye operations that helped patients regain their sight.
- He also funded emergency accommodation and shelters for families forced from their homes by the destructive earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco.
Emotional dedication from Arsenal winger
Accepting the award, Saka dedicated it to the children who have benefited from the projects. He then read a moving letter from Biringiro, a 14-year-old from Rwanda who began to lose his sight when he was 12.
Reading Biringiro’s words, Saka said: “When I was 12, I started losing sight. My village has no electricity, and as my eyesight got worse, even moving around my home became difficult. Then, thanks to BigShoe, I received the eye care that I needed. Today, I can read the blackboard even from the back of the classroom.”
The letter continued: “I can enjoy being a child again. For the first time in a long time, I’m excited about my future. I want to become an English teacher one day.”
Saka said: “I work a lot with my family and the charity BigShoe. We do our best to help children who don’t have the same opportunities or capabilities as we do. It’s an honour to be here, and it’s an honour to receive this award on behalf of all the children we’ve been able to help.”
