Bukayo Saka wins Socrates Award for philanthropic work

Arsenal and England forward Bukayo Saka has been awarded the Socrates Award during the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony held at the London Palladium. The award, presented by France Football and Peace and Sport, recognizes football players who use their platform and resources to support significant public and charitable causes.

Saka was honored for his extensive humanitarian efforts, including his partnership with the charity BigShoe, which funded over 120 medical interventions for children in Kano, Nigeria. His philanthropic work also extends to supporting earthquake victims in Turkey and Morocco, as well as donating kits to his local community in Ealing, London.

During the ceremony, Saka read a letter from a student whose school received equipment to help children learn to write as a result of his initiatives. The award follows previous recipients such as Sadio Mané and Vinícius Júnior.