Burna Boy becomes first Nigerian artiste to present Ballon d’Or award

By Doris Israel Ijeoma

Grammy award winner Burna Boy has become the first Nigerian artiste to present an award at the Ballon d’Or ceremony after handing the Socrates Award to Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka.

The Grammy-winning singer made history on Monday night, October 26, during the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium in the United Kingdom.

The event attracted some of the biggest names in football, alongside other personalities from the entertainment industry.

Burna Boy was invited to the stage by sports presenters Kate Scott and Thierry Henry to present the Socrates Award, which recognises footballers and their foundations for outstanding humanitarian work and contributions to society.

The singer spoke about his football academy and explained that the project was established as a way of giving back to the community.

He also expressed hope that one of the players from the academy would eventually win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.

The singer subsequently announced Saka as the recipient of the Socrates Award in recognition of his humanitarian efforts, including his support for a young boy in Uganda who needed eye surgery.

Saka, who plays for Arsenal and the England national team, has been involved in charitable activities aimed at improving the lives of disadvantaged people.

His participation in the Ballon d’Or ceremony came less than 24 hours after he thrilled football fans with his performance at the 2026 NFL Paris halftime show.

The Nigerian singer performed at the Stade de France on Sunday during the NFL matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints.