Lionel Messi, winner of eight Ballon d’Ors and considered one of the best football players in history, has yet another prestigious award to add to his collection: he has been awarded the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sport.
Key details
The jury chose the 38-year-old football player, who will turn 39 during the 2026 World Cup, on June 24, among 27 candidates from 12 different nationalities.
#BREAKING: Leo Messi has been awarded the Princess of Asturias Sports Award 2026. #Princess of Asturias Awards pic.twitter.com/Dy3YFPc HIR
The decision highlighted his «dazzling talent, his exceptional sporting career and his formidable and continuous solidarity work to promote access to education and healthcare for the most disadvantaged children».
In addition to his talent, the jury also praised the character of the player trained in the Barcelona academy, stating that «he also earned the respect and admiration of everyone for his exemplary behavior on the field and for his constancy, humility and commitment to the collective game».
This is not the first time that Messi has been honored in Spain, having already received the Creu de Sant Jordi in 2019.
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