Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has won the 2026 Socrates Award at the Ballon d'Or ceremony, recognizing his humanitarian work, which includes funding medical operations for children in Nigeria, donating school uniforms in London and speaking out against racism. The 25-year-old England international received the award for his efforts to support vulnerable communities beyond football. Introduced in 2022, the Socrates Award recognizes footballers for their humanitarian and charitable contributions over the previous year.
According to Sky Sports, one of Saka's key initiatives has been supporting children in Nigeria through Big Shoe, a German foundation that provides medical assistance to children and families worldwide. His contributions helped fund 120 surgical operations in Nigeria, including procedures for children with serious conditions such as brain tumours.
Saka has said his Nigerian heritage makes the work particularly meaningful to him. "I'm very proud of my Nigerian heritage, so being able to support children there is very special to me, and I feel very blessed to be able to help them," he said, according to the Premier League. "I remember when I was their age and had huge dreams. The message I want to convey is: keep dreaming, keep believing and go after your goals."
Supporting Children and Young People in London
According to the official Ballon d'Or website, Saka has also directed his charitable efforts toward Ealing, the west London area where he grew up. In 2025, he donated more than 1,000 school uniforms to four local schools, including Greenford High School, where he studied.
He also gave more than 100 pairs of football boots to participants at Street Soccer Academy, an organization that helps young people experiencing homelessness access training and employment opportunities.
Saka Speaks Out Against Online Racism
Saka has also used his platform to challenge racism and online abuse. After England lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final in July 2021, Saka and teammates Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho faced racist abuse on social media after missing their penalty kicks. Saka was 19 at the time.
He responded by calling on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to do more to prevent online harassment. "To the social media platforms Instagram, Twitter and Facebook: I don't want any child or adult to have to receive the hate messages and abuse that Marcus, Jadon and I have received this week," Saka said in a statement reported by ESPN. "I knew from the start the sort of hate I was about to face, and it's sad that your powerful platforms aren't doing enough to stop these messages."
In August 2021, police arrested 11 people as part of investigations into hate crimes linked to the online abuse following the final.
Saka has emphasized the importance of using his influence to make a positive difference beyond the pitch. "For me, it's really important to use my skills to make a positive impact whenever I can," he said, according to the Borgen Project.
