Lionel Messi, the forward and captain of the U.S. club Inter Miami and of the Argentina national team, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports. The Argentine was presented with the award at a ceremony in Oviedo, infohub.kz reports.
The Princess of Asturias Award is an international prize conferred in Spain. It is given annually to outstanding individuals and organizations from around the world for achievements in science, culture, sport, humanitarian work and other fields. The award is often called "the Spanish Nobel Prize."
Beyond his sporting achievements, the Argentine was recognized for his philanthropic work through the Messi Foundation and for his role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
Messi has previously spoken about how much the award means to him — especially for his late father, Jorge. "This award is something more than just recognition of what a person shows on the pitch, or of what I have achieved over my entire professional career. My father was genuinely happy about this recognition, and so I am sure that now he is rejoicing with me too," the Argentine said.
Lionel Messi is an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, the most decorated footballer in history, a 2022 World Cup champion, a four-time Champions League winner and a ten-time Spanish champion.