Messi says receiving the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports fills him with “enormous pride”
“For me it is an enormous pride. Spain and Catalunya are part of my life,” Messi said of his 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports recognition.
Lionel Messi was deep into training camp with Argentina in Kansas — gearing up for what will be his sixth World Cup — when he learned he had been selected for the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports. The honor caught him by surprise, but his reaction was pure emotion.
“For me, it’s an enormous source of pride,” Messi said after the announcement. “Spain and Catalunya are a big part of my life. I grew up there as a footballer, lived there for many years, and my children were born there. I’ve always felt a lot of love from the people, and that’s why this award means something very special to me.”
He made sure to share the credit.
“Nothing I’ve achieved was done alone. Behind every accomplishment are teammates, family, and so many people who helped me along the way,” he added. “I hope my story inspires kids everywhere to keep dreaming — with hard work, love for the sport, and the understanding that the most important thing is to be a good person and respect the values sports teach us.”
Previous winners: Serena Williams, Michael Schumacher, Rafa Nadal...
Messi succeeds Serena Williams, last year’s recipient, joining a list of global icons recognized for careers that transcend their sport. The jury highlighted Messi’s extraordinary legacy — one of the most decorated and influential in sports history.
At 38, Messi’s résumé is almost unmatched. After arriving from Argentina to join Barcelona’s youth academy, he became the face of the club’s most dominant era. At Camp Nou, he collected a staggering haul: four Champions League titles, 10 La Liga championships, seven Copa del Rey trophies, three Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, and eight Spanish Super Cups.
His trophy case grew even more at PSG, where he added two league titles and a domestic cup. And in the United States with Inter Miami, he has already won an MLS Cup, a Leagues Cup, and a Supporters’ Shield.
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