Lionel Messi's historic award ceremony thrills Asturias crowd
Lionel Messi received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on Friday, becoming the first footballer to win the prestigious Spanish honour individually. The 39‑year‑old Inter Miami forward accepted the award from Princess Leonor at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo, with King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia watching.
The award, announced on June 3, recognises Messi’s extraordinary career and his charitable work supporting disadvantaged children. The jury highlighted his humility, teamwork and fair play, praising him as the most successful footballer of all time.
Award ceremony in Oviedo
Princess Leonor presented the medal, saying Messi reads the game and makes decisive choices in fractions of a second while respecting the collective essence above ego. She added that he turns the extraordinary into routine. The EPA Photo captured the moment as the royal family took their seats.
Fans dressed in Argentina jerseys filled the hall, chanting Messi’s name as he entered, accompanied by the sound of bagpipes and drums echoing through the capital of the northern Spanish region of Asturias. The atmosphere blended football passion with traditional Asturian music.
Messi receives the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports
Messi's career celebrated
Messi’s résumé includes eight Ballon d’Or awards, a World Cup triumph with Argentina and dozens of major trophies won at club level. He spent 21 years at Barcelona, becoming the club’s all‑time leading scorer under coaches Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique. After leaving Barcelona in 2021, he spent two seasons at Paris Saint‑Germain before joining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
Internationally, Messi is Argentina’s all‑time leading scorer, assist provider and most‑capped player. He captained the side to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar, ending a 36‑year wait for the trophy.
Speaking at a children’s event in Oviedo on Thursday, Messi stressed the importance of accepting both victory and defeat, saying: “The most important thing is to know how to lose and how to win.” His message underscored the values the award seeks to honour.
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The Princess of Asturias Award places Messi alongside a distinguished group of sporting figures, including former Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who shared the honour in 2012. Past recipients also feature Brazil’s national team, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Eliud Kipchoge and Lindsey Vonn.