Burna Boy Presents Socrates Award to Bukayo Saka at Ballon d’Or

Nigerian singer Burna Boy presented the 2026 Socrates Award to Arsenal and England football star Bukayo Saka during the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, United Kingdom.

The award presentation brought together two prominent figures from the worlds of music and football at the prestigious event.

Burna Boy attended the ceremony on Monday evening alongside fellow Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold. During the event, he took to the stage to present Saka with the Socrates Award, which recognises individuals for their humanitarian contributions.

While presenting the award, the Grammy-winning singer spoke about his football academy in Nigeria. He expressed hope that the academy would nurture talented players who could eventually compete at the highest level of the sport and win the Ballon d’Or.

Burna also revealed that former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry was his favourite footballer while growing up.

Beyond his achievements in music, Burna Boy has continued to gain international recognition for his contributions to African entertainment and culture.

In 2024, Time magazine included him on its list of the world’s 100 most influential people. He has also performed at major international sporting events, including the UEFA Champions League final in 2023, where he entertained football fans with some of his hit songs.

The singer has frequently spoken about his journey to international success and the financial progress he has made throughout his career.

He has also acknowledged some of the Nigerian music veterans who influenced his development as an artist, including 2Baba, Timaya, D’banj and Wande Coal.

Burna Boy’s appearance at the Ballon d’Or ceremony further highlighted the growing presence of Nigerian entertainers on major international platforms.

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