Lionel Messi received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on 23 October 2026 at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo, Spain. Princess Leonor presented the award in the presence of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. Messi is the first individual footballer to receive this Spanish honour.
What Is the Princess of Asturias Award?
The Princess of Asturias Awards are annual Spanish prizes for work in science, culture and public life that benefits humanity at the international level. The Princess of Asturias Foundation, a private non-profit body based in Oviedo, presents the awards each October at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo, the capital of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain.
The Foundation was set up in Oviedo on 24 September 1980. The awards were first given in 1981. They were called the Prince of Asturias Awards from 1981 to 2014. The name changed after Felipe VI became King of Spain in June 2014 and his daughter Leonor, Princess of Asturias, the heir to the throne, became the honorary president of the Foundation. The awards are often described as the Spanish Nobel Prize.
The awards are given in eight categories. The jury for each category has about 15 to 20 specialists. Each award comprises a sculpture created by Spanish artist Joan Miro, a diploma, an insignia and a cash prize of 50,000 euros. The prize money is shared when there is more than one winner in a category.
| Category | Given Since | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Arts | 1981 | Work in film, theatre, dance, music, painting, sculpture and architecture |
| Communication and Humanities | 1981 | Work in humanistic sciences and social communication |
| Literature | 1981 | Literary creation in all genres |
| Social Sciences | 1981 | Research in history, law, economics, sociology, philosophy and related fields |
| Technical and Scientific Research | 1981 | Research in physics, chemistry, life sciences, medicine, space and technology |
| International Cooperation | 1981 | Work for public health, education, environment and social progress |
| Concord | 1986 | Work for human rights, peace, freedom and solidarity |
| Sports | 1987 | Careers that promote sport, solidarity and commitment |
Oviedo hosts the solemn ceremony each year. The city is the administrative and cultural centre of Asturias. It is known for its historic old town, Gothic cathedral and role as the starting point of the original pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela.
Why Lionel Messi Was Chosen for the 2026 Sports Award
The Princess of Asturias Foundation announced Lionel Messi as the winner of the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on 3 June 2026. The prize was presented on 23 October 2026 at the Campoamor Theatre. Princess Leonor handed the award to Messi. King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Queen Sofia and Infanta Sofia attended the ceremony.
The jury described Messi as the player who has won the most titles in the history of football. It praised his dazzling talent and his long and consistent career at the highest level. It also highlighted his sustained charity work to improve access to education and health care for disadvantaged children.
The citation stressed his conduct on the field. It noted his humility, teamwork and fair play. It said he earned respect and admiration by placing the collective game above personal glory. Presenting the award, Princess Leonor praised his quick reading of the game and his ability to choose the best option under pressure.
A day before the ceremony, on 22 October, Messi attended an event with about 5,000 children at the Oviedo Sports Palace. He spoke about accepting both victory and defeat with the right spirit. Fans in Argentina shirts gathered outside the theatre and cheered as he arrived to receive the award.
First Footballer Honoured Individually: What Makes It Historic
The Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, given since 1987, honours careers that show the value of sport through promotion of sport, solidarity and commitment. Football teams and pairs had won the award before 2026. No single footballer had won it alone.
Messi is the first individual football player to receive the distinction. This is the historic part of the 2026 decision. It places a team sport star alongside individual champions usually chosen for the category.
| Year | Football Honouree | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Brazil national football team | Honoured after winning its fifth FIFA World Cup |
| 2010 | Spain national football team | Honoured after winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa |
| 2012 | Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernandez | Joint award to the Spanish goalkeeper and midfielder |
| 2026 | Lionel Messi | First individual footballer to win the award |
The Sports category has earlier recognised stars such as tennis player Rafael Nadal, Formula One driver Fernando Alonso, rally driver Carlos Sainz, basketball players Pau and Marc Gasol and para athlete Teresa Perales. Messi now joins that group. The Foundation said his influence goes beyond goals and trophies to social impact, especially for children facing poverty and poor health access.
Lionel Messi: Career and Records Behind the Honour
Lionel Andres Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina. He moved to Spain at age 13 to join the La Masia youth academy of FC Barcelona. He made his first team debut in 2004. He stayed with Barcelona for more than 15 years and became the club player with the most matches played and the most titles won.
At Barcelona, Messi won 35 trophies between 2005 and 2021, including 10 La Liga titles, 4 UEFA Champions League titles and 7 Copa del Rey titles. After Barcelona, he played for Paris Saint-Germain in France and won Ligue 1 in 2021-22 and 2022-23. Since 2023, he has captained Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer in the United States. With Miami, he has won the Leagues Cup 2023, the Supporters Shield 2024, the MLS Cup 2025 and the Campeones Cup 2026.
The Foundation counts 47 titles in his professional career. Experts describe him as the most successful footballer of all time.
| Team | Major Titles |
|---|---|
| FC Barcelona | 35 trophies, including 4 Champions League titles and 10 La Liga titles |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2 Ligue 1 titles in 2022 and 2023 |
| Inter Miami | Leagues Cup 2023, Supporters Shield 2024, MLS Cup 2025, Campeones Cup 2026 |
| Argentina | FIFA World Cup 2022, Copa America 2021 and 2024, Finalissima 2022, Olympic gold 2008, Under-20 World Cup 2005 |
With Argentina, Messi won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after defeating France in the final. He had earlier won the Copa America in 2021 and won it again in 2024. He also won gold with Argentina at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He led Argentina to the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as well.
His individual records include a record 8 Ballon d’Or awards in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. The Ballon d’Or is the annual prize for the best male footballer in the world. He is the only player to win the World Cup Golden Ball, given to the best player of the tournament, twice, in 2014 and 2022. He has also won the European Golden Shoe 6 times and the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.
Beyond football, Messi supports health and education for children through sustained charity work. The jury cited this work as a central reason for the award, along with his humility and team spirit.
Key Takeaways
- Lionel Messi received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on 23 October 2026 at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo, Spain.
- Messi is the first individual footballer to win the Sports award, after team honours to Brazil in 2002, Spain in 2010 and Casillas and Xavi in 2012.
- The award was announced on 3 June 2026 for his record 47 titles, humility, teamwork and charity work for disadvantaged children.
- The Princess of Asturias Foundation, set up in 1980, gives awards in eight categories, with the Sports prize given since 1987.
- Each award includes a Joan Miro sculpture, a diploma, an insignia and 50,000 euros, presented by Princess Leonor.
