Messi receives top Spanish award from heir to throne

Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history, has been honored with Spain's most esteemed sports accolade, the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, in recognition of his illustrious career and dedication to aiding disadvantaged children's access to healthcare and education.

The Argentine forward, 39, was bestowed the prestigious award by Princess Leonor, the heir to the Spanish throne, during a ceremony in Oviedo, the capital of the northern Spanish region of Asturias. Fans clad in Argentina football shirts celebrated his arrival, cheering and chanting his name as he arrived amid the sounds of bagpipes and drums.

Princess Leonor praised Messi's "unique career," highlighting his ability to transform the extraordinary into the routine by reading the game and making the most effective decision in fractions of a second, all while respecting the collective essence above personal ego. The jury that selected the winner commended Messi for his exceptional achievements, which include eight Ballon d'Or titles, a World Cup, and numerous trophies at club level.

Messi spent 21 years at Barcelona, where he played alongside dominant teams led by Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique. After departing from the Catalan club in 2021, he spent two years at Paris Saint-Germain and currently plays for Inter Miami in the MLS. The footballer also announced he would be ending his international career earlier this year after losing the World Cup final to Spain in New Jersey.

In a recent event in Oviedo, Messi emphasized the importance of knowing how to handle both victory and defeat, stating that this attitude is fundamental in football. The Princess of Asturias Awards, established in 1981, are the most prestigious in the Spanish-speaking world and come with a prize of 50,000 euros ($56,000). The awards encompass the arts, sciences, and sports and are awarded annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to improving human coexistence, solidarity, and global cooperation.

Previous winners of the sports award include tennis stars Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, marathon record-breaker Eliud Kipchoge, and US skier Lindsey Vonn.