The key facts

  • Messi arrived in Oviedo on Thursday at around 13:00 together with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo; he was greeted by Teresa Sanjurjo, director of the Princess of Asturias Foundation
  • Tickets for the meeting with young people at the Oviedo Sports Palace sold out in 13 minutes; the ceremony is being held at the Campoamor Theatre
  • According to Kun.uz, Messi is the first footballer and the first Argentine to receive the award in person; the jury selected him from 27 candidates from 12 countries

Ceremonial Welcome in Oviedo

Lionel Messi arrived in the Asturian capital of Oviedo on Thursday at around 13:00, accompanied by his wife Antonela Roccuzzo. According to Euronews, he was met by hundreds of fans amid applause and the sounds of bagpipes; the footballer was greeted by Teresa Sanjurjo, director of the Princess of Asturias Foundation. Messi spent several minutes with supporters, signing autographs on shirts and photographs.

The Award and the Ceremony

Messi has been honoured with the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, one of the most prestigious awards in Spain. The jury highlighted his talent, career and charitable work aimed at expanding access to education and medical care for children from low-income families. According to Euronews, the Argentine has 47 trophies to his name over his career. Tickets for his meeting with young people and schoolchildren at the Oviedo Sports Palace sold out in 13 minutes. The award ceremony takes place on Friday at the Campoamor Theatre.

Details from Kun.uz

According to Kun.uz, the award was presented to Messi by Queen Leonor of Spain; King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia took part in the ceremony. Messi became the first footballer to receive this award, established in 1987, in person rather than as part of a team, as well as the first Argentine among the laureates. The jury's decision was announced on 3 June: Messi was chosen from 27 candidates from 12 countries. The jury also emphasised his modesty and commitment to team play. The laureate receives 50,000 euros and a sculpture by Joan Miró.

Personal Significance and Controversy

According to Messi's words cited by Kun.uz, the award holds personal significance for him: his father Jorge, who died on 8 August, had been eagerly awaiting this prize and encouraged him to travel to Spain. The outlet also notes that the presentation has sparked controversy: after the final of the 2026 World Cup between Argentina and Spain, some Spanish fans were unhappy with the Argentines' behaviour, and numerous petitions demanding that Messi be stripped of the award appeared on the Change.org platform. The Foundation has not publicly responded to them.