Another summit conquered! Lionel Messi wins a highly prestigious award

Argentina captain and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi admitted that he traveled to Spain to receive the prestigious 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports at his father’s insistence.

Details: The football superstar emphasized the special value of this recognition, which goes beyond purely sporting statistics.

“Honestly, I’m very happy. In fact, my father was really excited about this award. We knew it would be difficult to come here because of all my matches, but he insisted that we come here during these days and receive the award. This award goes beyond what a person does on the pitch or what I have achieved throughout my professional career. The truth is that he was genuinely happy about this recognition, so undoubtedly, he is happy about it too,” the Argentine said.

The arrival of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner in Oviedo sparked tremendous excitement among local sports fans. Despite his packed match schedule in North America, the forward made time for the transatlantic flight, underlining his deep respect for Spanish traditions and the supporters who have backed him for decades.

It is worth noting that the Princess of Asturias Award in the Sports category is one of Spain’s highest humanitarian honors, presented for a global contribution to the development of sports culture and for serving as an exemplary role model for younger generations. Previous recipients of this prestigious distinction have included legends such as Rafael Nadal, Michael Schumacher and the Spain national team—and now the list is also topped by the captain of the 2022 world champions.

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