Lionel Messi first individual soccer player to win Asturias Award

Lionel Messi received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports in Oviedo, Spain, becoming the first individual soccer player to win the prestigious honor.

Ceremony at Teatro Campoamor

The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward accepted the award from Princess Leonor during a ceremony at the Teatro Campoamor on October 23, 2026. Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia presided over the event, with Messi’s wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, watching from the audience, according to reports by Klix.ba.

During the proceedings, Messi rose to sustained applause from the crowd, greeted the princess, and posed briefly for photographs. Unlike several other recipients during the ceremony, he did not deliver a speech. Foundation director Teresa Sanjurjo explained prior to the event that omitting speeches aligns with tradition for certain honorees, and Messi departed before the post-ceremony dinner.

In her address, Princess Leonor specifically highlighted the Argentine forward. Zato ima smisla danas pogledati Messija i njegovu neponovljivu karijeru, she said, as reported by the Spanish agency EFE.

Recognition of Career and Humanitarian Work

The Princess of Asturias Foundation initially announced the award on June 3. The jury selected Messi to recognize his extraordinary athletic career, charitable work, and core values including humility, teamwork, and fair play.

Panelists specifically cited his ongoing efforts to expand access to education and healthcare for disadvantaged children, alongside his dedication to collective success. Messi has spent 17 seasons in the first team at Barcelona before later moving to Inter Miami.

Messi Becomes First Individual Player to Claim Sports Category

While soccer entities have been recognized before, Messi stands alone as the first individual player to claim the sports category. In 2012, former Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez and goalkeeper Iker Casillas shared the honor jointly. The Brazilian national team also received the distinction in 2002 following their fifth World Cup title.

Following the presentation, Barcelona published a public message celebrating their former star. Čestitamo Leu Messiju na nagradi Princeza od Asturije za sport 2026, the Catalan club stated on social media, adding that Ovo je potpuno zasluženo priznanje za tvoj izuzetni talent, koji je ostavio trajan trag na terenu i izvan njega i učinio tvojim uzorom u svjetskom nogometu zahvaljujući izvrsnosti, posvećenosti sportu i solidarnosti. The club emphasized that the player’s talent left a permanent mark on and off the field, calling him a role model of excellence, sporting commitment, and solidarity.

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