Lionel Messi has been awarded the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, Spain’s highest sporting distinction, in recognition of a career that has defined modern football and reshaped global sporting culture.
The Inter Miami CF and Argentina captain was honoured for what the jury described as an extraordinary blend of individual brilliance, team success and long term influence both on and off the pitch.
In its official statement, the jury said Messi stands among the greatest athletes in history, highlighting his consistency, longevity and commitment to collective achievement across more than two decades at the top level.
The panel also praised his humility and professionalism, noting the respect he has earned from teammates, opponents and supporters worldwide.
Beyond his achievements on the pitch, the award recognised Messi’s charitable work through the Leo Messi Foundation, particularly its focus on education and healthcare projects for vulnerable children.
Messi becomes the first footballer to receive the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports as a sole recipient. Previous football figures to be recognised include Spain icons Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernández, who shared the prize in 2012, while the national teams of Brazil national football team and Spain national football team were honoured in earlier editions.
The award places Messi alongside some of the most decorated names in world sport. Last year’s recipient was tennis great Serena Williams, whose career achievements and influence on equality in sport were widely recognised.
Other past winners include long distance runner Eliud Kipchoge, skier Lindsey Vonn and the All Blacks, underlining the global reach of the award across disciplines.
The 2026 edition of the Princess of Asturias Awards has already recognised figures across science, arts and social sciences, with remaining categories still to be announced ahead of the official ceremony.
Messi will formally receive the award at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo in October, in the presence of Spain’s royal family.
For a player whose career already includes World Cups, Ballon d’Or titles and Champions League triumphs, the honour represents recognition of something broader: a lasting global legacy that extends far beyond football itself.
