Lionel Messi to return to Spain as first footballer to receive Princess of Asturias Award

Lionel Messi is set to return to Spain in an unusual role: not to face Real Madrid, but to address the country’s educational community in Oviedo.

The Argentina forward will appear at the city’s Sports Palace in northern Spain as part of the presentation of the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, which he received on 3 June. The honour is regarded as Spain’s highest sporting and cultural distinction.

Messi is the first footballer in history to win the award individually since it was established in 1987.

According to Argentine newspaper Ole, the event will go beyond a formal ceremony. It will be a lecture and educational gathering aimed primarily at children and young people, forming part of the publicly accessible “Awards Week” cultural programme. Admission to the programme is free.

The central theme will be “The Number 10 Game”, an educational initiative created by the Princess of Asturias Foundation and inspired by Messi himself. As part of the project, school students in the region were asked to imagine a new and creative way of playing football in their schools, based on previous comments made by the Argentina international.

The initiative is intended to connect sporting values with creativity and education, using football as a starting point for students to develop their own ideas about the game.

Recognition for football and charitable work

The award’s jury recognised Messi for his “brilliant talent and exceptional sporting career”. It also praised his “tireless and continuous charitable work to improve access to education and healthcare for the most disadvantaged children”.

The panel additionally highlighted his exemplary conduct on the pitch, along with his consistency, humility and commitment to his team. Those qualities were noted alongside his status as a world champion with Argentina in 2022.

The Oviedo appearance will therefore combine the formal recognition of Messi’s career with a session focused on education and the role of sport in children’s lives.

By receiving the award, Messi joins an international list of sporting figures who have previously been honoured. It includes tennis great Serena Williams, marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge, athletics legend Carl Lewis and Spanish basketball brothers Pau Gasol and Marc Gasol.

The Princess of Asturias Award has been presented since 1987, but Messi’s individual success marks the first time a footballer has been selected for the sporting prize. His return to Spain will consequently be centred on his influence beyond competitive football, with students and educators in Oviedo invited to take part in the event.