Argentina football icon Lionel Messi is set to receive the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on Friday, adding another prestigious international honour to a career marked by extraordinary individual achievements and historic team successes. The award, presented under the patronage of the Spanish Royal Family, recognises individuals and organisations whose contributions to sport have made a significant impact on society.
The recognition comes shortly after Messi's recent appearance for Argentina, placing renewed attention on the international career of one of football's most celebrated players. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, who led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title in Qatar, has remained an influential figure in world football for more than two decades.
The Princess of Asturias Awards, often described as Spain's equivalent of the Nobel Prizes, honour excellence across several fields, including sports, science, literature, communication and international cooperation. The annual ceremony is traditionally held in Oviedo, in Spain's northern Asturias region, with members of the Spanish Royal Family presiding over the event.
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Messi becomes the first individual footballer to receive the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on his own. Previous football-related recipients include Brazil's national team in 2002, Spain's World Cup-winning team in 2010, and Spanish footballers Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernรกndez, who jointly received the honour in 2012.
The jury announced Messi's selection on June 3, recognising not only his achievements on the field but also his sustained charitable work to improve access to education and healthcare for disadvantaged children. The jury also highlighted his humility, consistency and commitment to teamwork.
Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami CF, has won 47 titles during his professional career, according to the Princess of Asturias Foundation. His achievements include the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2024 Copa Amรฉrica titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies with Barcelona.
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The 39-year-old arrived in Oviedo on Thursday with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, receiving a warm welcome from hundreds of supporters. He greeted fans and signed autographs before participating in activities organised around the awards ceremony.
A meeting with schoolchildren and young football enthusiasts at the Palacio de los Deportes generated considerable interest, with tickets reportedly selling out within 13 minutes. The event reflected the foundation's emphasis on recognising achievements that inspire younger generations.
Spain holds special significance for Messi, who joined Barcelona's youth academy as a teenager and spent more than two decades with the Catalan club. He scored 672 goals and won 35 trophies during his Barcelona career before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and subsequently joining Inter Miami in 2023.
Reacting to the award when it was announced, Messi expressed gratitude to the foundation and acknowledged Spain's importance in his personal and professional life. He said his achievements had depended on the support of teammates, family members and others who had helped him throughout his career.
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The 2026 Princess of Asturias Awards recognise eight recipients across different disciplines. Alongside Messi, this year's honourees include American singer and writer Patti Smith for the Arts, Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli for Communication and Humanities, British novelist Julian Barnes for Literature, and American astronaut Christina Koch for Concord.
The ceremony also recognises British historian Timothy Garton Ash for Social Sciences, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault for International Cooperation, and scientists David Klenerman, Shankar Balasubramanian and Pascal Mayer for Technical and Scientific Research.
Each award consists of a sculpture designed by Joan Mirรณ, a diploma, an insignia and a cash prize of 50,000 euros.
The recognition places Messi among a distinguished group of international personalities whose achievements extend beyond their respective professions. For the Argentine footballer, the award celebrates not only his record-breaking sporting career but also his contribution to promoting education, healthcare and opportunities for children through charitable initiatives.
His latest honour also comes as he continues to attract global attention following his recent appearances for Argentina, with his international future remaining a subject of interest among football supporters.