The football world just learned what Arsenal fans already knew about Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka is one of the nicest players in the world. That's it, that's the story.

Except it's not the story. It should be the story, but it isn't. Despite being one of the most respectful people in the sport, and being a genuine breath of fresh air in an otherwise toxic landscape, people still find ways to dislike Saka.

Finding genuine ways to dislike Saka borders on impossible. As a human, he's great; as a footballer, he's great too. But that doesn't fit the narrative, so the footballing world invents lies to justify their dislike of Saka.

We saw it last week, with Graeme Souness singling him out for being a 'cheat.' There was no foundation for that, other than Saka going to ground when he's kicked (which happens a lot). Souness comes from an era where defenders would boot attackers and the attackers were expected to stay upright - that era is long gone, but his expectation remains there.

Bukayo Saka recognised for his humanitarian work

Last night, Saka won the Socrates Award at the Ballon d'Or, an award designed to recognise a player's humanitarian work. It could have gone to any one of the genuienly great humans doing their bit to use their platform for the good of humanity, but it went to Saka.

Bukayo and his family are proudly charitable people. They have worked with multiple charities, including Big Shoe, providing medical and humanitarian aid to people in need in London and around the world. His charitable work extends to providing housing to those impacted by earthquakes in Morocco and Turkey, and surgery for over 100 children in Nigeria and across Africa.

Arsenal fans didn't need to be told how great a person Saka is, but it's a genuinely proud moment to witness him receive this award.

I don't know the reason why you dislike Saka - that is your own question to answer. Perhaps you just don't like Arsenal, and that's fair enough. You don't have to like us.

However, the fact of the matter remains the same. Many areas of life outweigh football, and when all is said and done, footballers change the world off the pitch, not on it.

Saka is a glowing example of how to be a genuinely good person. The world is a genuinely better place with him in it, and this award personifies that.