Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has been named the recipient of the prestigious Princess of Asturias Award for Sports 2026, becoming the first individual footballer to receive one of Spain’s highest international honours.
Presented annually by the Princess of Asturias Foundation, the award recognises outstanding achievements across a range of fields, including sports, arts, literature, scientific research, social sciences and international cooperation.
The jury, chaired by foundation president Teresa Perales, selected Messi in recognition of both his extraordinary sporting achievements and his impact beyond the football pitch.
Reacting to the announcement, Messi expressed gratitude for the honour.
“It is a great pride for me to receive this recognition because of its importance and because it recognises not only what I do on the pitch but also off it. I am very happy and very grateful,” Messi said.
The award marks another milestone in a remarkable career that has cemented the 38-year-old’s status as one of the greatest footballers of all time. Messi captained Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and also led the team to Copa América triumphs in 2021 and 2024. He previously won an Olympic gold medal with Argentina at the 2008 Beijing Games.
At club level, Messi enjoyed a trophy-laden spell with FC Barcelona, winning 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies. Since joining Inter Miami CF, he has added the 2023 Leagues Cup, the 2024 Supporters’ Shield and the 2025 MLS Cup to his list of honours.
Individually, Messi has won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards, along with two MLS MVP honours and nine La Liga MVP awards.
He now joins a distinguished list of previous Princess of Asturias Sports Award recipients, including Rafael Nadal, Michael Schumacher, Serena Williams and Eliud Kipchoge.
