Arsenal and England winger Bukayo Saka has been named the winner of the 2026 Socrates award, presented during the Ballon d'Or ceremony, according to Goal.com. The recognition is for his charitable and humanitarian work away from football rather than for anything he did on the pitch.
Goal.com reports that the award highlights Saka's efforts on behalf of children in need. He worked with BigShoe, a German charitable foundation, to fund surgical procedures for young patients in Nigeria, the country his parents come from. That partnership helped make 120 operations possible for children living with a range of medical conditions, including hernias and brain tumours.
Why it matters
The Socrates award is handed out by France Football magazine together with the Peace and Sport organisation as part of the Ballon d'Or programme. Goal.com describes it as a way of acknowledging football figures who put their profile and resources behind community service and humanitarian, educational and health projects.
For Saka, the honour places his off-field work alongside the achievements of some of the game's most prominent players. It also draws attention to medical support for children in Nigeria, a cause the award citation ties directly to his family background.
A prize built on footballers giving back
The Socrates award was first presented in 2022 and carries the name of Socrates, the late Brazilian midfielder known for his social convictions and his advocacy for democracy. Goal.com notes that the prize is intended to bring attention to the wider humanitarian footprint of the sport's leading names.
Senegal's Sadio Mane was the first recipient, recognised in 2022 for charitable projects in his home country. According to Goal.com, those efforts included backing for health and education work, among them a hospital and a school in his village of Bambali.
Brazil's Vinicius Junior took the award in 2023. Goal.com reports that he was honoured for work promoting children's education and for efforts against racism, largely carried out through his foundation, which offers educational opportunities and builds digital resources in Brazilian public schools.
The 2024 prize went to Spain's Jenni Hermoso, in recognition of her social positions and her part in bringing attention to abuse and discrimination. In 2025 the award was given to the Xana foundation, connected to Spanish coach Luis Enrique and his family, which supports children with serious illnesses and stands with their relatives.
Saka now joins that group. Goal.com notes that his work for children has attracted particular attention and argues that the influence of footballers extends well past their performances in matches, far enough to alter other people's lives.
What to watch
The Ballon d'Or ceremony also settled the sport's headline individual prizes for the year, and the full results are worth checking against Goal.com's coverage.
