Harry Kane wins Ballon d'Or; Saka honoured for humanitarian work
England captain Harry Kane claimed the men's Ballon d'Or at Monday's ceremony in London, becoming the first Englishman since Michael Owen in 2001 to win football's most prestigious individual award. Kane edged out nominees including Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi after a prolific season for Bayern Munich. Spain's Alexia Putellas secured her third women's Ballon d'Or, equalling the record, after captaining Barcelona Femeni to four major trophies. Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal won the men's young player award, while Vicky López took the women's equivalent.
For Nigerian audiences, the standout moment was Bukayo Saka receiving the Socrates Award for humanitarian work and social initiatives. The Arsenal winger, born in London to Nigerian parents, has consistently used his platform for charitable causes including supporting education and healthcare projects in Nigeria. Kane also collected the men's top scorer award, while Mexico's Charlyn Corral won the women's equivalent. Barcelona Femeni and Paris Saint-Germain were named women's and men's clubs of the year respectively.
The ceremony, organised by France Football, recognised the 2025-26 season's outstanding performers across all categories. Spain's Pere Romeu and Luis de la Fuente earned coach of the year honours, while goalkeepers Cata Coll and Unai Simon completed the major awards.
With Saka's Socrates Award highlighting the impact of Nigerian-heritage players beyond the pitch, will this inspire more dual-heritage athletes to leverage their platforms for social impact in Nigeria?