The Golden Ball Ceremony creates the Socrates Award for players committed to charitable and community projects
The organizers announced Wednesday that they will award, during the 2022 Ballon d'Or ceremony, scheduled for October 17, a new award dedicated to players and players committed in community and charitable projects, under the name "Socrates Prize" in honor of the Brazilian football legend.
"The Socrates Prize will make it possible to identify the best acts of solidarity by the champions and heroines who are committed to them," the French magazine France Football, which awards the Ballon d'Or, said in a statement.
In the light of it, she added, initiatives in favor of social integration, environmental development or assistance to vulnerable populations or victims of conflict will be rewarded, somewhat similar, for example, to the campaign of England striker Marcus Rashford in 2020 for disadvantaged British families.
The name of Socrates, the football genius who died in 2011, was chosen by France Football because of the Brazilian international midfielder's involvement in the famous and romantic "Democratization of Corinthian", where the Corinthians team, which was defending its colors, made the bold choice to make all decisions The club to vote.
This new award will be awarded by a jury that includes a former Brazilian star, his younger brother Ray, who has defended the colors of Paris Saint-Germain, as well as representatives of France Football magazine and officials of the Monaco-based Peace and Sports Organization that oversees development and peace projects through sport. .
This new accessory trophy completes the record of the Ballon d'Or gala scheduled for October 17 at the Théâtre Châtelet in Paris, during which seven prizes will be awarded.
In addition to the Copa Cup for the best young player, the Yashin Cup for the best goalkeeper and the Gerd Muller Cup for the top scorer, the Team of the Year award and the Socrates Award will be awarded, along with the two most prominent awards in the ceremony: the Golden Ball for the best player and best player. In the 2021-2022 season.
In 2021, Spain's Alexia Botías and Argentina's Lionel Messi won the two prestigious awards.
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