By: Yetunde Aiyedogbon
Burna Boy has become the first Nigerian artist to present an award at the Ballon d’Or. The Grammy-winning singer, whose full name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, handed the 2026 Sócrates Award to Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka at the London Palladium on Monday 26 October.
It was the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or and the first to be staged in London. Organisers picked the city to mark 70 years since England’s Stanley Matthews won the inaugural award in 1956.
Before making the presentation, Burna Boy talked about the football academy he started in Nigeria a few years ago to help the game grow back home. He said he hopes to return to the ceremony one day and see one of his own people win a Ballon d’Or.
The Sócrates Award honours players who use their platform to support humanitarian causes. It’s named after the late Brazilian footballer Sócrates. Saka plays for England and has Nigerian heritage. He won for his work with BigShoe, a charity that funds medical treatment for children, including major operations in Nigeria.
The ceremony came a day after Burna Boy performed at halftime of the NFL’s Paris game on 25 October, when the Pittsburgh Steelers played the New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France. It was the league’s first regular-season game in France. In July he joined Shakira for the first halftime show at a FIFA World Cup, performing “Dai Dai”, the tournament’s official song.
He has played other big sporting occasions too, including the 2023 NBA All-Star Game and the UEFA Champions League final kickoff show. His Grammy came in 2021, when Twice As Tall won Best Global Music Album, and he has collected seven nominations since.
Discover more from CLARITYNEWSNG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
