Mane: Socrates Award 'deflects Ballon d'Or snubbing', Senegal star's 'golden heart' - Fans and Bayern Munich react

11:36 GMT+3 18/10/2022

The 30-year-old Lion of Teranga was feted following his remarkable humanitarian work, but did he deserve more?

Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane has been described by a cross-section of fans as "a man with a golden heart" after he became the first-ever recipient of the Socrates Award.

However, many African fans feel this award was created to deflect from the disappointment of not awarding Mane the Ballon d'Or.

The Socrates Award was given to the 30-year-old following the work he has already done in his home country Senegal. Part of his work in his hometown of Bambali saw him build a school worth €270,000, and put up a hospital worth €530,000.

Every month, he also gives family €70 for upkeep, provide free clothes to kids and access to the 4G network thanks to his partnership with Orange.

Apart from the Socrates award, Mane also finished second in the race to win the Ballon d'Or, which was won by Real Madrid's Karim Benzema. By finishing second, he became the second African after George Weah, who won it in 1995 to reach the podium.

Fans have taken to their social media pages to praise Mane and also express their frustration that an African has not won the Ballon d'Or.

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Golden heart

A man with a golden heart, Sadio Mane. 🇸🇳❤️ - @FrankKhalidUK
Thank you for your life Sadio, you truly an amazing human being, let alone the beast in football ⚽️ Every goal you score, represents your human decency and caring heart for humankind 💚🤍- @sellomatthews11
That's nice, and he did it without crazy PR, he gives from his heart. - @senorbalde
He is an amazing footballer with a kind heart ♥️ Young footballer should idealize him. - @tanmoykkumar
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Well deserved

I love it, well deserved Mane... one the footballers i love no matter which team he plays for. - @ChidiRichard8
He does so much for his home and any other player. He really deserves it. - @ONLY_ZiGGiE
Well deserved no other one deserves it more. - @RajabGhandour
Well deserved, great player and an even better human being. - @ErikTentPeg
Well deserved, his humanitarian work speak for itself. Always making Africa proud. 🏆 - @CharlesEocansey
Truly deserving he does more for his home country than any other player. - @Ultimate_Quincy
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The award is a deflection

Not taking anything away from that award. That was just to deflect his snubbing on the main award he deserves after his achievements on the previous season. No black African player will win that award.
Our best have failed to be recognised and this injustice will never stop. - FactCheck
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Mane is humble

This guy is one of the simple and humble human in earth. God bless him. - @mytwits_fornon
Sadio Mane has a golden heart despite being hardworking and a great soccer player so proud of you as an African guy 🙏. - @KawongoEric
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Pride of Africa

The pride of Africa ♥️♥️- @Usmanilias2
Mane lad so humble, I’m sure he doesn’t care about the “awards” but he deserves it 👏👏👏🔴YNWA🔥💪💪 - @purple991166
Congrats Sadio Mane, you are a true son of the soil, may Almighty Allah keep blessing and elevating you, you are worthy of emulation, blessed is the hands that give than the hand that take, respect boss, love all the way from Nigeria. - @Delaw74692428
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Mane lays solid plan

Sadio Mane has laid solid master plan for players especially African players who are known to be stingy and do not care about where they are coming from. He has been able to prove that you can make money and help without your money getting finished. - @Myxtique_
All the rest footballers at the ceremony look at him with disdain, I reckon. They feel guilty deep down for being millionaires and not fulfill any social duty. - @podavus
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Mane deserved Ballon d'Or

Mane deserved the Ballon d'Or…he won Afcon 22 and African Player Of The Year Award. The Ballon d'Or is biased… it must be hard for an African player at Europe😩💔 - @Barrymore01
He was the genuine Ballon d'Or winner honestly... He was robbed and hopeful you all know why - @atwoli_n
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Africa's number one

Africa here we bring something. Mane is Africa number 1💪💪 - @ryans_simond
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Mane outfit lauded

Sadio Mane rocking an African outfit to the Ballon d'Or ceremony is the highlight for me; There's nothing wrong in wearing suit but I love the way he choose represent Africans by styling on native.
We need more players like him, people who make a statement with their acts. King! - @DanielRegha
Sadio Mane is very cultured. Representing who you are makes you very unique and distinct.🖤
#BallonDor pic.twitter.com/BWST4aArrJ
— Our Father💯🇸🇱 (@MukehMukeh2) October 17, 2022

Sadio Mane wearing the African attire to Ballon d’or is the best thing you'll seen in a long time. He makes makes Africa proud. 😍 - @KateregaUthman
Sadio Mane is very cultured. Representing who you are makes you very unique and distinct.🖤- @MukehMukeh2
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Muller and Bayern praise Mane

👏 A big respect for all your social activities 👍🏼 #BallonDor #sadiomane #esmuellert. - @esmuellert_
🏆 Winner of the first ever Socrates Award 🏅 Second place in the #BallonDor voting
We're proud of you, Sadio! 🇸🇳 - @FCBayernEN
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Mane deserves better

Sadio Mane deserves better than Socrates award!!! 😒😒😒 Mane is the best plus I just wish he was still in EPL. - @Engineer_Fabish
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Mane for president?

I see Sadio Mane, becoming the president of Senegal on near future. - @JaxonBilly1