Messi Awarded Prestigious Spanish Sports Prize For Football Legacy
From Barcelona legend to Inter Miami star, Lionel Messi wins the 50,000-euro Princess of Asturias Award for Sports in recognition of his unique career.
Eight-time ballon d'or winner Messi wins Princess of Asturias prize...
Lionel Messi was honoured with Spain's most prestigious sports award on Friday for his remarkable career and his efforts to improve access to health and education for disadvantaged children.
The 39-year-old Argentine forward was named winner of the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports back in June, with the jury describing him as “the most successful footballer of all time” and praising his humanitarian work.
Dozens of supporters in Argentina jerseys cheered and chanted Messi's name as he arrived to bagpipes and drums at the ceremony in Oviedo, the capital of the northern Spanish region of Asturias.
Messi was presented with a formal parchment scroll by Princess Leonor, the heir to the Spanish throne for whom the awards are named, who praised his “unique career.”
“He turned the extraordinary into routine by reading the game and deciding on the most effective option in fractions of a second, while respecting the collective essence above ego,” Leonor said.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever, Messi has claimed eight Ballon d'Or titles, lifted the World Cup, and won dozens of trophies at club level.
He spent 21 years at Barcelona, forming part of the sides that dominated Spanish and European football under Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.
After departing the Catalan giants in 2021, Messi spent two seasons with French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain and now plays for Inter Miami in MLS.
Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer, assist provider and most-capped player ended his international career earlier this year after losing the World Cup final to Spain in New Jersey.
“The most important thing is to know how to lose and how to win,” Messi said at an event with children in Oviedo on Thursday, adding that the mindset was “fundamental” in football.
Established in 1981, the Princess of Asturias Awards are the most prestigious honours in the Spanish-speaking world and include prize money of 50,000 euros ($56,000).
The moment Lionel Messi received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports. “For being the player with the most titles in football history, for his charitable work, and for his humility and commitment to the collective game.” 🤍 https://t.co/9kIKUsjd6J
— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) October 23, 2026
The awards cover the arts, sciences and sports, and are presented each year to recognise contributions to human coexistence, solidarity and global cooperation.
British novelist Julian Barnes, pioneering US astronaut Christina Koch and punk icon Patti Smith were among the other laureates honoured on Friday.
Past recipients of the sports prize include tennis legends Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, marathon world-record holder Eliud Kipchoge and US skiing star Lindsey Vonn.
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