Inter Miami salute Messi’s award as Barcelona call for farewell
Inter Miami praised Argentine captain Lionel Messi after he collected the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports in Spain, while Barcelona midfielder Pedri urged the Catalan club to organise a proper farewell for the legend, the Argentine icon who left Barcelona in 2021 and now stars for Inter Miami in the MLS.
Inter Miami’s public tribute
The MLS side posted a message on X congratulating its captain, writing: “Congratulations, captain, on receiving the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports. Your talent makes history. Your values leave a mark that goes far beyond soccer.” The club’s tweet highlighted Messi’s influence beyond the pitch and celebrated his achievement on behalf of the team.
Award ceremony in Oviedo
Messi received the distinction from Princess Leonor at the Teatro Campoamor in Oviedo, where he was greeted by a standing ovation. The jury cited his record as the player with the most titles in football history, as well as his talent, humility and charitable work for children’s education and health care. He became the third footballer to win the prize, following Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernández in 2012, and the princess described him as someone who “turned the extraordinary into routine” while putting the collective game above ego.
Messi’s personal reflections
Speaking to the news agency EFE, the 39‑year‑old dedicated the award to his late father, Jorge Messi, who had recently passed away. He said his father was “extremely excited” about the honour and had insisted that he travel despite a tight match schedule. Messi spent 36 hours in Oviedo, skipped the post‑ceremony cocktail and returned to the United States, where Inter Miami will face the New York Red Bulls on Oct 24 before he attends the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Oct 26 as a nominee.
Pedri’s farewell plea
Barcelona midfielder Pedri called Messi “the greatest player ever in this club” and argued that the Argentine “deserves a big farewell”. He recalled watching Messi at 17, marveling at the Argentine’s first touch and noting that while other players needed three touches, Messi could make seven. Pedri added that even when two opponents marked him, teammates still chose to give the ball to Messi.
Pedri remembers playing with Messi
Having shared the pitch during the 2020/21 campaign, Pedri said playing with Messi felt “so easy” and that he was “lucky enough to play with him, but only for one year”. He lamented that the partnership was “too short” and that Messi’s departure in 2021 never afforded a proper send‑off. Pedri will now focus on the upcoming Clasico, where he is expected to play a crucial role as Barcelona aim to maintain their hundred percent winning record in La Liga.
The dual reactions – Miami’s official commendation and Barcelona’s heartfelt call for a proper goodbye – underline Messi’s enduring global impact, celebrated both in the United States and by the club where his legend was forged.