Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy presented Arsenal and England forward Bukayo Saka with the 2026 Sócrates Award at the 70th annual Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The Sócrates Award recognizes professional footballers for outstanding humanitarian work, social activism, and community impact.
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Saka received the honor in recognition of his extensive global charitable initiatives supporting underprivileged and vulnerable children.
Taking the stage at the London Palladium Theatre, Burna Boy commended Saka’s efforts off the pitch and shared his own ambitions for youth development through his personal football academy, expressing hope that it will one day produce future Ballon d’Or winners.
After receiving the award on stage, Saka shared a story from a 14-year-old Biringiro in Rwanda, who benefitted from the work of the charity BigShoe.
Reading the boy’s letter, Saka said: “When I was 12, I started losing my sight. My village has no electricity and as my eyesight got worse, even moving around my home became difficult.
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“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.
“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.”
The gala marked a landmark moment in football history as the first Ballon d’Or ceremony hosted outside of France, held in London to mark the 70th anniversary of inaugural 1956 winner Sir Stanley Matthews.
