Messi accepts Spanish sports award and speaks warmly about his Barcelona years
Lionel Messi traveled to Oviedo to receive the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports. He said it was hard to summarize his Barcelona career and praised former teammates including Xavi, Iniesta, and Puyol. The award also recognized his football achievements and charitable work.
Messi traveled to Oviedo to accept the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports. The committee made him the first individual footballer to receive the honor, which is decided by a jury and covers fields including sports, arts, literature, and science.
In remarks to EFE, he called sharing a Barcelona dressing room with Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol and others a privilege. He recalled winning major trophies while enjoying training and daily club life. The citation also highlighted his football record and charitable efforts to improve schooling and medical care for children facing disadvantage.
The honor may reinforce Messi’s public role beyond sport, especially for Barcelona supporters and young athletes who see his career as a model of sustained excellence and teamwork. His charitable record, highlighted by the award, could draw more attention to education and health access for disadvantaged children. Because the event centers on a global football figure, it may also encourage wider discussion of athletes’ civic influence, though its direct social effects are likely gradual and difficult to measure.