Princess Charlene Honors Humanitarian Efforts at Ballon d'Or
Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco attended the 69th Ballon d'Or ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Monday, September 22, 2025, where she presented the prestigious Sócrates Prize to the Xana Foundation. The award highlights significant humanitarian and social commitment within the world of football.
The Sócrates Prize: Recognizing Social Commitment
The Sócrates Prize, established in 2022, is an annual award presented during the Ballon d'Or ceremony to honor footballers engaged in solidarity actions or societal causes. Named after the legendary Brazilian footballer Sócrates, known for his social and democratic activism, the prize was created by Peace and Sport in collaboration with L'Équipe and the France Football Group. Previous recipients include Sadio Mané (2022), Vinicius Junior (2023), and Jenni Hermoso (2024).
The Xana Foundation: A Legacy of Support
This year's Sócrates Prize was awarded to the Xana Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing comprehensive support to children and adolescents suffering from serious illnesses, particularly oncological diseases, and their families. The foundation offers medical, financial, and psychological assistance. It was founded by Luis Enrique Martínez, the current coach of Paris Saint-Germain, and his wife Elena Cullell, in memory of their daughter Xana, who tragically passed away at the age of nine in 2019 from osteosarcoma. Sira Martínez, Xana's sister and the foundation's President, accepted the award from Princess Charlene.
Princess Charlene's Message and Presence
Princess Charlene, a former Olympic swimmer and wife of Prince Albert II of Monaco, graced the event in an elegant Elie Saab cady long dress. During her speech, she underscored the profound impact of sports beyond mere activity, stating, 'Football, as all sports, is much more than an activity in itself. Sports are about values, passion and dedication.' She also highlighted Monaco's strong appreciation for sports, noting that 'In Monaco, sports are highly regarded and the Principality has been elected as the World Capital of Sports 2025.' Her presence emphasized Monaco's commitment to leveraging sport as a tool for peace and social cohesion.
6 Comments
Noir Black
Focusing on the dress instead of the foundation's vital work. Typical.
KittyKat
It's positive to see the intersection of high-profile events like the Ballon d'Or with significant humanitarian work. Still, the media often focuses more on the celebrity attendees and their fashion choices than on the profound impact of the organizations being honored.
Loubianka
Princess Charlene always champions important causes. So inspiring!
Habibi
All that glitz and glamour for a serious cause feels a bit off.
Mariposa
What a beautiful tribute! The Xana Foundation deserves all the recognition.
Eugene Alta
It's a nice gesture, but football's wealth could do so much more directly.