Senegalese football star, Sadio Mane has won France Football’s inaugural Socrates Award in recognition of his charity work in his native Senegal.
Mane the reigning and two-time CAF Men’s Player of the Year won the Socrates award for combating social issues off the pitch.
The 30-year-old star received the award presented to him by the brother of Socrates, Rai and former Chelsea, and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba at the 2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony held at the French Théâtre du Châtelet venue (Paris) in France on Monday.
“The Socrates Prize identifies the best social initiative by committed champions,” said a statement from France Football magazine, which added the humanitarian award to the 2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
The accolade is named after the late footballer Socrates, who co-founded the Corinthians Democracy movement, in opposition to the ruling military government in 1980s Brazil.
Upon receiving the award, Mane explained his motive to help people in his home country of Senegal.
He said, “I’m just pleased to be here. I don’t like talking about what I do, but I do what I can for my people and try to improve things in my country.”
Sadio Mané also finished second in the 2022 Ballon d’Or, only ranking behind Real Madrid and striker Karim Benzema. On Monday night, the 30 -year-old became the second African player to reach the podium of the prestigious trophy since George Weah’s triumph in 1995.
