Bukayo Saka reads out emotional letter from 14-year-old after winning Socrates Award at Ballon d'Or

Bukayo Saka has become the latest winner of the Socrates Award for humanitarian work - and ended his acceptance speech by reading out the inspiring story of a young child who had been helped by a charity the Arsenal star supports.

The Gunners winger is a partner of the BigShoe charity, which describes itself as 'a worldwide network of football stars, fans and partners that stand up for children from disadvantaged regions'.

Part of their recent work has involved funding 120 life-changing medical operations for children in Nigeria, while Saka has also helped to support health check-ups for more than 580 children in Rwanda. And during his acceptance speech, Saka pulled out a letter from his suit pocket that he wanted to read on behalf of a 14-year-old child from Rwanda.

Bukayo Saka reads out letter from Rwandan child during Ballon d'Or speech

Saka thanked France Football for giving him the award before turning his attention to the children he has been able to help worldwide.

"I'd love to share with you a story from the BigShoe Charity, which has helped change a kid's life, in his words, so I'm going to read it to you now," he began.

"To everyone here tonight, my name is Biringiro, I'm 14 years old and I live in Rwanda. I'd like to share my story with you.

"When I was 12, I started losing my sight. My village has no electricity, and as my eyesight got worse, even moving around my home became difficult. At school, I couldn't read what my teachers wrote on the blackboard and I struggled to play with my friends. I just wanted to play freely and feel like every other child.

"Then, thanks to BigShoe, I received the eye care that I needed. 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.

"I know many of you here tonight have achieved your childhood dreams, and now I believe I can achieve mine too. May God bless you all abudantly, with love and gratitude. Biringiro. Thank you."

"For me, 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," Saka continued after finishing the letter. "Thank you."

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Who has previously won the Socrates Award?

The Socrates Award was founded in 2022 and named after the iconic Brazilian footballer of the same name, who protested against the military regime in Brazil and worked to improve the treatment of footballers in the country.

Saka is the first English winner of the award. Sadio Mane was the inaugural winner in 2022 for his charitable contributions in Senegal, with Vinicius Junior (2023) winning it for his charitable efforts in Brazil and for his efforts against racism.

Jennifer Hermoso was the first female winner of the award in 2024 for raising awareness of sexual abuse after he kissed her on his lips without consent following Spain's Women's World Cup win. Luis Enrique won it in 2025 for his work with the Xana Foundation, a charity founded following the death of Enrique's six-year-old daughter Xana which supports seriously ill children and their families.