Photo: L’Equipe / Peace and Sport.
The Ballon d’Or won’t be the only trophy awarded Monday evening at London’s Palladium Theatre. For the fifth consecutive year, the prestigious ceremony will also see the Socrates Award presented, recognizing footballers’ charitable and social commitment. Sadio Mané was honored in 2022 for his dedication to health, education, and development in Senegal. He was followed by Vinicius Junior for his fight against racism (2023), Jenni Hermoso for her fight against violence against women (2024), and Luis Enrique for his Xanax Foundation for sick children (2025). Joël Bouzou, president of the Peace and Sport organization, a partner of this award, shares his thoughts ahead of the highly anticipated ceremony.
How did the partnership between Peace and Sport and the Ballon d’Or come about?
We share a number of values with the leaders of France Football, L’Equipe, and the Amaury Group. Our goals aligned. Rewarding the best footballer in the world is fantastic; it attracts an incredible audience and represents the pinnacle of elite sport. We wondered if we could find another dimension and shine a spotlight on the very best. role model football. That’s how we created the Socrates Prize. His name quickly became popular because he’s a symbol: in addition to being a great footballer, he launched the Corinthians Republic, created a self-management system within his club, took a stand against the military dictatorship in Brazil, and so on. He used his aura as a champion to bring about positive change in society. That’s how we created the prize, to reward people who understand the power of their influence to inspire others.
How long did it take for this idea to become a reality?
It took a little over a year, almost two, from the initial idea to finding the symbol and putting it into practice. Once we agreed on it and the name Socrates was the obvious choice, we had to convince the family, but they were completely on board. Rai, Socrates’ younger brother, is on the jury; we work closely with him. Family members come every year for the award ceremony. It’s now part of Socrates’ legacy. We’re very happy; it’s a trophy that is eagerly anticipated and respected.
The Sócrates Award: Football beyond the pitch Inspired by the incredible life of Brazilian football legend and doctor Sócrates Brasileiro, the Sócrates Award honors players who use their influence to make a positive impact off the field. 🌍💫 Every year, this award, presented by l’Equipe Group and @peaceandsport highlights the most inspiring actions by committed footballers who support their communities and drive social change. ✨ Stay tuned as we reveal the winner during the @ballondor 2025! #GoldBall
— Peace and Sport (@peaceandsport) September 16, 2025
Is this prize also a way to combat certain prejudices, to show that athletes have things to say outside of sport?
Absolutely, that’s the mission of Peace and Sport: to help transform the emotions of high-profile champions into success. Elite sport takes up a huge part of life, but not everything. Some athletes are aware that they can contribute to something other than simply being admired for their achievements. Take Sadio Mané: he has used his influence, which allows him to speak to young people as well as leaders. When he decides to donate money to support hospitals, people listen. Each time, the Socrates Prize lends prestige to the initiative, amplifying its impact and reinforcing role models who can make a difference in society.
How does the selection process for candidates and the winner take place?
We work on this award year-round, constantly monitoring current events and compiling a shortlist of about ten projects. We then submit this list to the jury, which includes Rai, Frédérique Galametz (editor-in-chief of L’Equipe), the president and CEO of Peace & Sport, the editor-in-chief of France Football, and the communications director of the L’Equipe group. We review the shortlist based on four criteria: tangible social impact, concrete actions, beneficiaries, and results; the champion’s level of personal involvement; international visibility and potential for further public and sporting exposure; and consistency with the award’s identity.
The jury members.
Have previous winners told you how important this prize was to them?
Sadio Mané, as we’ve seen several times, attended our forum in Saudi Arabia in 2023. Luis Enrique, his wife, and his sister-in-law are very involved in overseeing his foundation. They came to Monaco and visited the Peace and Sport offices. They met with the teams to discuss the legacy of the trophy and to expand the scope of their work. This gives them much more credibility. Construction projects are being accelerated thanks to this award and recognition. What they do is recognized internationally, so they more easily receive support at the local level.
Is it possible to imagine the Socrates Prize evolving in the future?
It started in a way, since last year Luis Enrique was the first coach to receive this award. We remain focused on athletes, but we also allow ourselves the possibility of making exceptions when it’s highly innovative and impactful. Active champions, those still in their careers, interest us because of their aura, but those who have finished their careers or who use their aura to do something else also interest us. We are convinced that sport is much more than just sport. Football is much more than just football. We are here to create as many megaphones as possible, and champions are part of that, to contribute to lasting societal change. It’s not a utopia; we are able to change the behavior of many young people in communities through sport.
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