Lionel Messi receives Princess of Asturias Award for Sports
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Vanguard
Lionel Messi received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports in Oviedo, becoming the first footballer to receive the distinction individually. The former FC Barcelona player spoke about his teammates, trophies won and lasting attachment to the club and city, according to the EFE news agency.
Lionel Messi received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports at a ceremony in Oviedo, Spain. The Argentine footballer, a former FC Barcelona player, is the first individual footballer to receive the distinction, according to Vanguard.
The award committee recognised his sporting achievements and charitable work supporting access to education and healthcare for disadvantaged children. It also praised his conduct, humility and commitment to teamwork, as well as his record as the most decorated player in football history.
Messi spoke about his time at FC Barcelona, where he shared a dressing room with Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and Carles Puyol. He told the EFE news agency that the period had left him with a particular emotional bond to the city and the club, and that it was difficult to sum up in a few words the experiences he had in Catalonia, reports Vanguard.
