Bukayo Saka wins the award that celebrates football beyond trophies

For me, Bukayo Saka won one of the most meaningful awards of the night at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony in London.

The Arsenal and England star received the Socrates Award, recognising his incredible humanitarian work.

Now, I am not saying the Ballon d'Or or any of the other awards are less meaningful. They recognise years of hard work, dedication and extraordinary achievements on the football pitch.

But the introduction of the Socrates Award has been a fantastic addition to the ceremony.

Because football is not just about goals, assists and trophies. It is also about the difference these footballers can make in people's lives.

And Saka is a wonderful example of that.

Speaking at the ceremony, the 25 year old explained how he works alongside his family and the charity BigShoe to help children who are less fortunate.

"I work a lot with my family and the charity called BigShoe.…