JAKARTA – Inter Miami and Argentina star Lionel Messi has been awarded the Princess of Asturias Awards for Sports for 2026, becoming the first individual football player to receive the award from the committee.
“Hi, we are already in Kansas City to concentrate with the Argentine National Team, but today I woke up and received the news (about the award) with a lot of messages congratulating me on the Princess of Asturias award.”
“To be honest, for me it is a great pride to be able to receive this recognition because of the importance of this award and because this recognition is not only for what I do on the field, but also off the field.”
“I’m very happy and very grateful. I want to tell you and send a warm hug to everyone. Thank you and see you again,” Messi said in a video from Argentina’s training camp ahead of the start of the 2026 World Cup.
The Princess of Asturias Award is given to individuals and institutions for outstanding achievements in fields such as art, literature, social sciences, scientific and technical research, international cooperation, and sports.
The jury, which consisted of several members, including the President of the Teresa Perales Foundation, chose to award the award to Messi.
“In addition to his stunning talent, his incredible athletic career, and his incredible and ongoing work to promote access to education and health care for the most disadvantaged children.”
“Leo Messi, the player who has won the most titles in the history of football, has also earned the respect and admiration of everyone for his exemplary behavior on the field and for his consistency, humility, and commitment to the team game,” the jury said in a statement.
Messi received this award after becoming one of the most accomplished football players in this sport. He lifted the 2022 World Cup trophy, the 2021 and 2024 Copa America trophies in a row, and won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing while representing Argentina.
Among his club’s many victories, Messi has won 10 La Liga titles and won four Champions League trophies with Barcelona as well as the 2025 MLS Cup, the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, and the League Cup (Leagues Cup) 2023 with Inter Miami.
Individually, Messi has won eight Ballon D’or titles, two consecutive MLS MVP awards, and been named LaLiga MVP nine times.
Previous recipients of the Princess of Asturias award for Sports include Rafael Nadal, Michael Schumacher, Serena Williams, and Eliud Kipchoge.
Xavi Hernandez and Iker Casillas also received the award in 2012 when they shared the award that year, while the entire Spanish National Team won it in 2010.
Regardless, Argentina begin their 2026 World Cup campaign on June 16 against Algeria, before facing Austria and Jordan as part of their bid to defend their title.
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