Sadio Mane, 30, is without doubt known for his continued support and efforts at helping disadvantaged and unprivileged people, and it is with this in mind that France Football has made an award that befits his character off the pitch.
He becomes the first in history to be awarded the “Socrates Award”. An award which identifies the best social initiative by committed champions, said a statement from France Football magazine. The accolade is named after the late footballer Socrates, who co-founded the Corinthians Democracy movement, in opposition to the ruling military government in Brazile in the 1980s.
In his struggle for an improved life to the disadvantaged and the unprivileged of his community, Mane has built a public hospital and funded schools and families and also in 2020, donated to the Senegalese National Committee to help fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I’m really happy to be a guest tonight,” Mane said. “Sometimes I’m a bit shy, but I’m really happy to do what I can do for my people to make things better.”
The Bayern Munich forward who is the reigning African Footballer of the Year, was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or. He was bettered by his French counterpart, Karim Benzema after seeing out an outstanding 2021-22 season.
The Real Madrid striker beat out Sadio Mane, Kevin de Bruyne, and Robert Lewandowski in the voting to win the prestigious FIFA Balon d’Or award which happens to be his first also. He was pivotal as Real Madrid won La Liga and the UEFA Champions League scoring 44 goals and assisting a further 15 goals in that very impressive run.
He scored 23 goals in his final season as a Liverpool player whilst helping Senegal win their maiden Africa Cup of Nations title, and has since produced nine goals and an assist in 16 competitive appearances for Bayern.
