Why Bukayo Saka won the Sócrates Award at the Ballon d'Or gala

Arsenal forward Saka received the Sócrates Award at Monday's Ballon d'Or gala for his humanitarian work with Big Shoe, supporting vulnerable children and families worldwide.

Bukayo Saka was honoured with the Sócrates Award at the Ballon d'Or gala on Monday, recognising his tireless humanitarian efforts. The award is presented annually to the person in football who has made the greatest social impact.

Saka and his family have been actively supporting charitable causes and launching special projects through Big Shoe, which provides medical care and humanitarian aid to children and families in need in London and around the world. Their initiatives have financed emergency shelters and reception centres for people left homeless after the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco, and enabled life-saving operations for over 100 children in Nigeria who could not otherwise afford them.

Saka is the fifth recipient of the Sócrates Award, which has been presented since 2022. Previous winners include Sadio Mané, Vinícius Júnior, Jennifer Hermoso and Luis Enrique.