On Monday, Arsenal and England forward Bukayo Saka was awarded the Socrates Award for humanitarian work by France Football, the organisers of the Ballon d’Or, the world’s most prestigious football awards.
Saka’s intervention helped 120 children in Kano, Nigeria, receive medical operations.
He funded the Kano operations in 2022 through BigShoe, a charity that helps children from disadvantaged communities receive medical treatment.
The procedures covered several conditions, including inguinal hernias, umbilical hernias and brain tumours.
For children whose families could not easily afford treatment, the support provided access to medical care that could improve their health and quality of life.
He has also made his impact across Africa, with his charitable work giving new life to hundreds of other children who need access to health care.
Saka, who was born in London to Nigerian parents, said he wanted to use his position as a professional footballer to help children in a country to which he feels closely connected.
“I feel blessed to be in a position where I can contribute to making the children's lives easier and better through these surgeries,” he said in 2022.
“For me, it is very important to use my abilities to have a positive impact where I can.
“I want to do more and more and help as many children as I can.”
How Saka's Support is Changing Children's Lives
Saka's work with BigShoe has extended beyond Nigeria, with initiatives in other African countries helping children access medical care.
In Rwanda, the partnership supported health checks for more than 580 children.
One beneficiary, a boy named Biringiro, described how medical treatment helped him regain his sight after it began deteriorating when he was 12.
The 14-year-old's experience featured in Saka's acceptance speech at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on Monday.
Reading from the boy's letter, Saka explained that living in a village without electricity had made the condition particularly difficult.
As his eyesight worsened, the boy struggled to move around his home, read what teachers wrote on the classroom blackboard, and play with his friends.
After receiving eye care through BigShoe, his situation improved.
“Then thanks to BigShoe, I received the eye care that I needed,” the boy wrote.
“Today, I can read the blackboard even from the back of the classroom.
“But more importantly, I no longer need to worry about feeling different.
“I can enjoy being a child again.
“For the first time in a long time, I'm excited about my future.
“I want to become an English teacher one day.”
The account illustrates what access to medical treatment can mean beyond a hospital procedure.
“For the boy, improved eyesight meant being able to participate more fully in classroom activities, enjoy time with friends, and look forward to his future.
Saka's work with BigShoe has also included support for children in Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, with about 100 children reported to have benefited from operations in the three countries in 2023.
The charity's approach focuses on helping children receive treatment for medical conditions that could otherwise limit their health, development and everyday activities.
Saka has explained that helping children enjoy opportunities often taken for granted is an important reason behind his involvement.
“We know how it feels to be a child and have a ball at your feet and how much joy you have,” he said during Monday's ceremony.
“Every time I have the opportunity to help another kid have that feeling again, that's important to me.”
The Socrates Award
Saka's work with BigShoe earned him the 2026 Socrates Award, presented during the Ballon d'Or ceremony.
The honour recognises footballers who use their influence and resources to support humanitarian causes.
Introduced in 2022 by France Football in collaboration with Peace and Sport, the award is named after former Brazil captain Sócrates, who was also a medical doctor and social activist.
Previous recipients include Senegal's Sadio Mané in 2022, Brazil's Vinícius Júnior in 2023, Spain's Jenni Hermoso in 2024, and the Xana Foundation in 2025.
Saka received the award after years of supporting initiatives that help children access essential medical care.
His contribution in Kano alone funded 120 operations, while his wider work has helped children in other African countries receive treatment.
In his acceptance speech, Saka thanked those involved in the charitable work and dedicated the recognition to the children who had benefited.
“It's an honour to be here, and it's an honour to receive this award on behalf of all the children we've been able to help,” he said.
His recognition highlights a simple but important impact: helping children receive treatment, return to everyday activities, and have a better chance of pursuing their ambitions.
For further details on the Kano operations, we contacted BigShoe and Dr. Musa Ibrahim, one of the lead doctors involved in the medical efforts.
The enquiries sought additional information about the procedures and their impact on the children and their families.
Responses had not been received as of press time.
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