Messi Honoured in Spain as Princess of Asturias Award Takes on Special Meaning After Father’s Death

Lionel Messi has added another major individual honour to his extraordinary career after receiving the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports in Oviedo, Spain.

The Inter Miami captain was officially recognised at Friday’s ceremony at the Teatro Campoamor, bringing together some of the world’s most respected figures from sport, culture, science and the arts.

For Messi, however, the occasion carried a deeply personal meaning.

The Argentine superstar revealed before the ceremony that his late father, Jorge Messi, had been extremely excited about the award and had insisted that his son make the journey to Spain despite the demands of his football schedule.

Jorge Messi died on August 8, 2026, making the recognition an emotional moment for the 39-year-old footballer.

Speaking to EFE in Oviedo ahead of the ceremony, Messi explained how much the award meant to his father.

“My father was extremely excited about this award,” Messi said.

The Inter Miami forward explained that he and his family knew travelling to Spain would not be straightforward because of his commitments with the club, but his father believed the honour was important enough to make the trip.

“We knew it would be difficult because of my match schedule, but he really insisted that we come, that I travel here to spend these days and receive the award,” he said.

Messi also made it clear that he viewed the honour as something much bigger than another recognition of his football achievements.

“This award goes beyond what you do on the pitch or what I’ve achieved throughout my career,” he said.

Reflecting on his father’s reaction, Messi added: “Honestly, he was very happy about this recognition and that’s why I’m sure he’s enjoying it too.”

Those words gave the award an emotional dimension beyond the usual celebration of Messi’s sporting achievements.

A recognition beyond football

The Princess of Asturias Foundation announced Messi as the 2026 recipient of its Sports Award on June 3.

The jury selected him from a field of 27 candidates representing 12 countries, recognising not only his achievements as a footballer but also his conduct, humility and charitable work.

According to the foundation, Messi was chosen because of his exceptional sporting career and his continued efforts to help disadvantaged children gain access to education and healthcare. The jury also highlighted his consistency, humility, commitment to teamwork and the respect he has earned throughout his career.

The award is therefore not simply a celebration of goals, trophies and records.

It recognises the broader influence Messi has had both inside and outside football.

Over more than two decades at the highest level, the Argentine has transformed himself from a gifted young player into one of the most decorated footballers in history.

His career has included an extraordinary collection of domestic and international honours, with the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph with Argentina standing among the most significant achievements.

The Princess of Asturias Foundation describes Messi as the most successful footballer of all time, with 47 titles listed in its profile of the 2026 laureate.

But the foundation’s decision also reflects the belief that Messi’s influence extends beyond what he has accomplished during matches.

His charitable activities, particularly those connected with children’s health and education, have become an important part of his public legacy.

Messi’s journey back to Spain

The award also brought Messi back to a country that played an enormous role in shaping his career.

The Argentine spent more than 20 years associated with Barcelona after arriving in Spain as a teenager. During that period, he developed into one of the greatest players the sport has ever produced.

Messi has repeatedly described Barcelona as the club of his life, and during his visit to Oviedo he reflected on the values he learned during his formative years there.

He explained that playing football at the highest level was never simply about what happened during matches.

For Messi, preparation, responsibility, discipline and the willingness to improve were all part of becoming a successful footballer.

He also spoke about the influence of his parents and the values they passed on to him, including commitment, respect and solidarity. Those principles, he said, are values he now tries to pass on to his own children together with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo.

His return to Spain generated an enormous reaction from supporters.

Hundreds of fans gathered in Oviedo to welcome the Argentine when he arrived alongside Antonela on Thursday. He stopped to greet supporters and sign shirts and photographs before continuing with his tightly scheduled programme.

The excitement continued when Messi met members of the educational community at the Palacio de los Deportes.

More than 6,000 people attended the event, many of them children and young football supporters. The gathering formed part of the Foundation’s “The Number 10 Game” initiative, which encouraged students to think about football through inclusion, respect and fair play.

Inspiring the next generation

Messi’s interaction with the young audience demonstrated another reason why the Princess of Asturias Award has significance beyond his playing career.

The initiative used Messi’s experiences and statements to encourage students to think about how football can be played in a more inclusive way.

During the event, Messi spoke about the importance of learning from both victories and defeats.

That message reflects an attitude he has maintained throughout his career. Despite winning almost every major honour available to a footballer, he has repeatedly emphasised the importance of continuing to improve.

His competitive nature was also evident when he discussed training and preparation.

Messi explained that he has always approached training seriously because he believes the work done away from the stadium prepares a player for the biggest moments.

That mentality helped define his career at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and Argentina.

It also contributed to his longevity at the highest level of professional football.

A historic award

Messi’s selection also carries historical significance.

The Princess of Asturias Awards are among Spain’s most prestigious honours, recognising individuals and institutions whose work has made a significant impact in their respective fields.

The Sports category has previously recognised major names including Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Eliud Kipchoge and Michael Schumacher.

Messi now joins that distinguished group.

The award also recognises an individual footballer for the first time in the history of the Sports category, according to Inter Miami’s announcement of the honour.

That makes the achievement another landmark in a career already filled with historic milestones.

From his rise at Barcelona to his success with Argentina and his continued influence at Inter Miami, Messi’s career has crossed generations and continents.

His influence has also extended beyond the traditional football audience, with millions of young players around the world viewing him as an example of technical ability, dedication and professionalism.

A moment shared with his father

Despite the celebrations surrounding the award, Messi’s thoughts remained closely connected to his late father.

Jorge Messi played an important role throughout his son’s journey, particularly during the early stages of his football career.

For Messi, therefore, receiving the Princess of Asturias Award without his father present made the occasion bittersweet.

His comments showed that Jorge had viewed the recognition as something particularly meaningful.

The fact that he encouraged Messi to make the difficult trip to Oviedo despite his football commitments made the final decision to attend even more significant.

Messi’s belief that his father would still be enjoying the moment gave his words an emotional conclusion.

The award may have been presented to Lionel Messi, but the occasion also became a tribute to the people and values that helped shape him.

Another chapter in Messi’s legacy

Messi has spent much of his career collecting football’s biggest trophies and individual prizes.

Yet the Princess of Asturias Award represents something different.

It acknowledges the footballer, but it also looks at the person behind the achievements.

The jury recognised his talent and sporting accomplishments while placing equal emphasis on his charitable work, humility and commitment to collective success.

That broader recognition appears to be what made the honour especially important to Messi and his family.

As he accepted the award in Oviedo, Messi added another remarkable chapter to a career that has already included a World Cup, multiple continental titles, domestic championships and a record number of individual accolades.

But this particular moment will likely remain memorable for a different reason.

It was an occasion Messi had been encouraged to attend by his father, a man who understood the significance of the recognition before he could see his son receive it.

For Messi, the Princess of Asturias Award is therefore more than another trophy to add to an already extraordinary collection.

It is a recognition of a football career that has influenced millions, a reminder of the values that shaped his journey and, most importantly, a moment he can share in memory with the father who wanted him to be there.

With the honour now secured, Messi’s legacy continues to grow beyond the football pitch — exactly the kind of impact the Princess of Asturias jury sought to recognise.