Burna Boy handed Bukayo Saka the 2026 Sócrates Award in London and shared his dream of seeing his Nigerian academy produce a future Ballon d’Or winner.
Burna Boy stepped into football’s biggest night in London, and he used the moment to talk about a dream close to his heart. The singer presented Arsenal star Bukayo Saka with the 2026 Sócrates Award at the Ballon d’Or ceremony. Before handing it over, he told the room about the football academy he runs back in Nigeria.
He explained that the academy started a few years ago, simply to support football culture at home. Now he’s hoping that one day he’ll return to the same event and watch one of his own people collect an award. Speaking about the project, he said it was “for my people back home.” It was a short speech, but it said a lot about where his head is at beyond music.
The Sócrates Award isn’t about goals or trophies. It honours footballers who use their influence and resources to help others off the pitch. Saka earned it for his work with BigShoe, a charity that supports children in need, including those who need medical care.
When it was his turn to speak, Saka made the work feel real. He read out a letter from a 14-year-old boy in Rwanda whose eyesight improved after he got treatment through BigShoe. Rather than talk in big numbers, he let one child’s story show what access to healthcare can change in a young person’s life.
Burna Boy didn’t linger on stage. He congratulated Saka with a hug and stepped back so the footballer could enjoy his moment.
Whether a Ballon d’Or winner ever comes out of Burna Boy’s academy is a story for another day. But he has said the dream out loud in front of the whole football world, and that’s usually where these things start.
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