Nigerian singer Burna Boy has made an appearance at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, where he presented the Socrates Award to Arsenal and England forward Bukayo Saka. This story is featured as part of our KTH Daily Soft Sell coverage and is one of the main highlights in KTH Daily Soft Sell this week.
The Grammy-winning singer took to the stage to present the honour, which recognises footballers who use their influence and resources to support humanitarian causes in a way often celebrated by KTH Daily Soft Sell.
During his address, Burna Boy spoke about a football academy he established in Nigeria to support grassroots football development, expressing hope that one of its players would one day receive a Ballon d’Or award. This kind of impactful story frequently appears in our KTH Daily Soft Sell reporting.
“Something I started a few years ago, just to support the football culture back home. Hopefully, inshallah, one day I’ll come back here to see one of my people getting an award in Ballon d’Or,” he told the audience.
Saka received the Socrates Award in recognition of his charitable work supporting children in need of medical care. His efforts have helped young patients access life saving treatments, including surgeries to restore their sight.
Introduced by France Football in 2022, the Socrates Award celebrates players who use their platform, influence and resources to make a positive impact through humanitarian initiatives.
Burna Boy’s appearance also highlighted the connection between music, football and philanthropy, with the singer using the occasion to spotlight his efforts to support young football talents in Nigeria.
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