Nigerian music superstar Burna Boy has made history as the first Nigerian artiste to present an award at the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony, further highlighting Nigeria’s growing influence on the global entertainment and sporting scene.
The Grammy-winning singer, whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, presented the 2026 Sócrates Award to Arsenal and England forward Bukayo Saka at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26.
The ceremony marked the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or awards and the first time the prestigious event was held in London.
Before presenting the award, Burna Boy spoke about his football academy in Nigeria, explaining that the initiative was established to support and promote football development in his home country.
He expressed hope that a Nigerian footballer would one day return to the Ballon d’Or stage to receive an award, reflecting his ambition to see Nigerian talent gain greater recognition in international football.
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The singer said the academy was created a few years ago to support football culture in Nigeria, adding that he hoped to witness one of his compatriots receive an award at the ceremony in the future.
The Sócrates Award honours footballers who use their influence and resources to support humanitarian causes and make meaningful contributions to society.
Saka received the 2026 honour in recognition of his charitable work with BigShoe, an organisation that provides medical treatment for children, including life-changing surgical procedures in Nigeria.
Burna Boy’s appearance at the ceremony came just a day after his halftime performance at an NFL game in Paris, marking another high-profile international engagement for the African music star.
His participation in the Ballon d’Or ceremony underscores the growing intersection between music, football and humanitarian work, while placing Nigerian entertainment talent on another major global platform.
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