Lionel Messi,has been named the recipient of the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports.
The jury announced the decision on Wednesday, praising the Inter Miami CF star’s extraordinary career. In a statement, the Princess of Asturias Foundation highlighted Messi’s sustained excellence, record-breaking achievements, and worldwide influence as key reasons for the selection.
Born in Rosario on June 24, 1987, Messi began his journey at Newell’s Old Boys before joining Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy at age 13. He debuted for Barça’s first team in 2004 and went on to collect 35 trophies with the Catalan club, including four Champions League titles, ten La Liga crowns, seven Copa del Rey trophies, three FIFA Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, and eight Spanish Super Cups.
After stints at Paris Saint-Germain and now with MLS side Inter Miami, Messi has also shone on the international stage, captaining Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and winning two Copa América titles.
Widely regarded as one of the most decorated footballers ever, Messi boasts 47 career titles and numerous individual honors: eight Ballon d’Or awards, three The Best FIFA Men’s Player awards, six European Golden Shoes, and two Laureus World Sportsman of the Year titles (2020 and 2023). He also holds the Guinness World Record for most goals in a calendar year (91 in 2012).
The foundation emphasized Messi’s journey overcoming a childhood growth hormone deficiency, portraying him as a global symbol of consistency, humility, and teamwork. His charitable work through the Leo Messi Foundation and his role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador were also noted.
According to the foundation, the award recognizes careers that “through the promotion, fostering and advancement of sport and social commitment, have become an example of the benefits that practising sports can bring to people.”
This year’s sports award drew 27 candidates from 12 countries. It is the sixth of eight Princess of Asturias Awards to be announced in the foundation’s 46th edition. Previous 2026 winners include Patti Smith (Arts), Studio Ghibli (Communication and Humanities), David Klenerman, Shankar Balasubramanian and Pascal Mayer (Technical and Scientific Research), the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (International Cooperation), and Timothy Garton Ash (Social Sciences). The Literature and Concord prizes will be revealed in the coming weeks.
The awards ceremony will take place in October in Oviedo, Spain, presided over by Spain’s King and Queen, accompanied by the Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofía. Each laureate receives a Joan Miró sculpture, a diploma, an insignia, and a €50,000 cash prize.
