British ministers originally said school food vouchers would not be available over the long summer holiday, prompting Marcus Rashford to take up the cause and reveal how he had relied on such support as a boy.
Other contenders for the award, voted for by the public in December, include Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson who are both at 12/1.
Health minister Matt Hancock referred to a 'Daniel' Rashford in an interview earlier in the day as he paid tribute to the Manchester United footballer for his campaigning on food vouchers for struggling families which had prompted a change in government policy.
'I'm here to receive my honorary doctorate for my work around child poverty. Yesterday, millions of families across the UK lost a lifeline and a means of staying afloat," he added, referring to the UK government ending a temporary increase of 20 pounds ($27) in weekly benefit payments to support the country's poorest families.'
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