Rich Humanitarian Endeavors.....BEYOND FOOTBALL: WHY BUKAYO SAKA GOT FOOTBALL'S NOBLEST PRIZE - THE SOCRATES AWARD.

•By Mike Cerutti, Publisher, The Humanitarian world newspaper 

Though the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony has come and gone, one moment continues to dominate conversations both on and off the pitch. While the world focused on who would take home the Golden Ball, it was Arsenal star Bukayo Saka who stole hearts for a different reason. At the glamorous event held at the London Palladium, Saka was honoured with the Socrates Award, the Ballon d'Or prize reserved for players who embody exceptional humanitarian service and social responsibility.

The spotlight at the ceremony was intense as Saka walked up looking sharp and composed to receive football's most humanitarian honour. By his side was his fiancée, Tolami Benson,

who stunned in elegant style and set the internet agog. Dressed with grace and confidence, she stood beside him as cameras flashed throughout the hall, with many online describing her as the star who stole the show at the ceremony.

The Socrates Award, introduced in 2022 and named after the late Brazilian football legend and democracy activist Sócrates, is considered the noblest prize in football. It does not celebrate goals, assists, or trophies. It celebrates humanity. It honours footballers who use their global platform to fight inequality, support the vulnerable, and give back to society. Past winners have included Sadio Mané and Vinícius Jr.

Bukayo Saka, 24, earned the honour through years of quiet but impactful charity work, largely away from the spotlight. Since 2022, he has partnered with the German humanitarian organisation BigShoe to fund life-changing medical interventions for children across Africa. His first major project funded complex surgeries for about 120 children with serious medical conditions in Kano State, Nigeria, the country of his parents' origin.

A year later in 2023, he expanded the outreach, funding another 100 surgeries for children in Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Beyond surgeries, his foundation supported health screenings for over 580 children and provided health insurance coverage for more than 1,000 people in rural communities in Rwanda. His interventions have consistently targeted children from low-income families who otherwise would have no access to such care.

Saka's humanitarian footprint extends beyond Africa. During the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Morocco, claiming close to 30,000 lives and displacing thousands of families, Saka donated emergency shelters and container homes to displaced families. The gesture provided immediate relief and temporary housing for families who had lost everything, demonstrating a compassion that transcends football rivalries and borders.

In his acceptance speech, Saka kept it humble and heartfelt. He said, "Some of the best things this year happened both on and off the pitch. Proud of what we're building. Grateful to receive the Sócrates Award, and continue to make an impact where we can." With this win, he became the first Arsenal player and the first Englishman ever to win the Socrates Award, cementing his status not just as one of football's brightest talents, but as one of its biggest hearts.

For many young fans, Saka's story is a reminder that true greatness is measured off the pitch. While goals win matches, compassion wins lives. From Kano to Kigali, from London to Marrakesh, the Nigerian-born British star has shown that no matter how far football takes you, nature has a way of pulling you back home to remember where you came from. 

•The Cerutti Media subsidiary platform, Humanitarian World Newspaper, pays glowing accolades to Saka and he will be well celebrated in our next edition.

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