Burna Boy

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka received the Socrates Award at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris, honouring his humanitarian work, including sponsoring children's surgeries in Nigeria. Nigerian music star Burna Boy presented the award, with Vinicius Junior a previous winner of the prize.

Burna Boy performed at the NFL's first-ever game in Paris, bringing Afrobeats to the league's debut in the French capital, with French singer Yseult joining him on stage. The halftime-style performance drew attention for pairing the Nigerian star with a major French artist, underlining the NFL's effort to court local audiences as it expands internationally. Fans have been discussing the collaboration and the symbolic moment for Afrobeats on a global sports stage.