Lionel Messi Receives 2026 Princess of Asturias Sports Award

Lionel Messi received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on 23 October at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo, Spain. Princess Leonor presented the award at a ceremony attended by members of the Spanish Royal Family. Messi became the first footballer to receive the award as a solo laureate; footballers had previously been honoured as teams or jointly.

Messi’s Career and Public Service

Messi’s career includes Argentina’s victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, four UEFA Champions League titles and 10 La Liga titles with FC Barcelona. He has won the Ballon d’Or eight times and the European Golden Shoe six times. The 2026 award citation recognised his sporting career, consistency, teamwork and charitable work.

Messi has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2010. Through the Leo Messi Foundation, he supports initiatives in education, healthcare and sport for children, including disadvantaged children.

Selection and Previous Football Laureates

The award jury announced Messi as the 2026 laureate on 3 June, selecting him from 27 candidates representing 12 nationalities. Previous football recipients include the Brazilian national team in 2002, the Spanish national team in 2010, and Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernández jointly in 2012.

Princess of Asturias Awards

The Princess of Asturias Awards are presented annually by the Princess of Asturias Foundation, based in Oviedo. The awards recognise individuals and institutions across eight fields: Arts; Literature; Communication and Humanities; Social Sciences; Technical and Scientific Research; International Cooperation; Concord; and Sports. The awards were first presented in 1981.

Important Facts for Exams

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• The Princess of Asturias Foundation presents the awards annually in Oviedo, the capital of Asturias.
• The 2026 Sports award ceremony took place at the Campoamor Theatre.
• The Spanish national football team received the award in 2010, while Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernández shared it in 2012.
• The Princess of Asturias Awards cover eight fields, including Sports, Concord and Technical and Scientific Research.

The jury selected Messi from 27 candidates representing 12 nationalities. Messi has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2010.