Why did Spain award Lionel Messi the “Nobel Prize”? Inside his historic victory as the first individual footballer
Lionel Messi becomes the first footballer to single-handedly win Spain’s prestigious Princess of Asturias Award, honoring sporting excellence and philanthropy / Image: Instagram Lionel Messi received an award unlike any of the trophies that have defined his football career when he received Spain’s prestigious Princess of Asturias Prize for Sport in Oviedo on Friday. The Argentine was recognized not only for his achievements on the pitch, but also for his charity work to support vulnerable children. The award makes Messi the first footballer to receive the award individually, following earlier honors for teams and other sporting greats.
Messi receives tribute in Oviedo after returning to Spain
Messi was presented with the 2026 Princess of Asturias Sports Award at the Teatro Campoamor in Oviedo on Friday, October 23, after arriving in northern Spain the previous day. The 39-year-old attended events with local schoolchildren before joining King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and other honorees at an official dinner.His visit came just weeks after he brought the curtain down on his international career with Argentina, adding new accolades to a career already marked by record-breaking trophies and individual accolades. The Inter Miami forward is expected to return to the United States ahead of his club’s Oct. 24 game against the New York Red Bulls.
Argentina soccer player Leo Messi receives a medal from Spain’s Princess Leonor before the Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony in Oviedo, Spain October 23, 2026. The awards are presented annually in the capital of Asturias to honor scientific, cultural and humanitarian achievements around the world. REUTERS/Vincent West
The Princess of Asturias Awards are presented annually by the Princess of Asturias Foundation in eight categories that recognize achievements in fields such as sports, art, literature, science and public affairs. First established in 1981 as the Prince of Asturias Prizes, the awards are often described as the Spanish equivalent of the Nobel Prizes.The sports prize is awarded every October in Oviedo and includes a statue of Joan Miró, a diploma, insignia and 50,000 euros. The ceremony takes place at the Teatro Campoamor, a historic opera house that has become the home of the awards.
Why Messi was chosen, apart from his extraordinary collection of trophies
The jury announced Messi as the 2026 recipient on June 3, choosing him from 27 candidates representing 12 nationalities. His decision recognized his exceptional talent and career, while highlighting his consistency, humility, team approach and behavior on the pitch.Messi’s record provides a significant sporting case. He has won 47 team trophies, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, four Champions League titles and 10 La Liga championships with Barcelona. He also holds the record for most Ballon d’Or wins, with eight, won six European Golden Boots and scored 936 official goals in his senior career.His career continued outside of Barcelona, where he spent most of his club years, through two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain and his move to Inter Miami following Argentina’s World Cup triumph. However, the Princess of Asturias Award recognizes more than just the accumulation of titles and records.
Lionel Messi and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo arrive at the Princess of Asturias awards ceremony in Oviedo, northern Spain. AP/PTI(AP10_23_2026_000234B)
The foundation also highlighted Messi’s charity work, particularly his support for children facing vulnerable situations. Since 2010, he has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and heads the Leo Messi Foundation, which supports initiatives focused on children’s health, education and access to opportunities.After learning that he had been selected, Messi acknowledged the importance of Spain in his life, saying: “This award has a very special value for me.”
A first for an individual footballer with a strong Spanish connection
Footballers have received the Princess of Asturias Award before, but Messi is the first to receive it individually. The Spanish men’s national team received this honor in 2010 after winning the World Cup, in 2012 it was shared by Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernández.Messi’s association with Spain runs through much of his personal and professional life. At the age of 13, he moved from Argentina to join Barcelona’s La Masia academy and obtained Spanish citizenship in September 2005. His formative years and the peak of his club career took place in the country, although he remained a defining figure in Argentina football.The award is limited to Spanish citizens, so Messi’s citizenship is relevant to his eligibility. His selection also reflects the extent of his influence in Spain, where Barcelona helped shape the career that eventually made him one of football’s most famous players.
Messi joins a distinguished list of sporting recipients
The Argentine joins a list of previous sports award winners that includes Serena Williams in 2025, badminton player Carolina Marín in 2024 and marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge in 2023. Rafael Nadal, Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Pau and Marc Gasol and Spain’s 2010 World Cup winning team also won the 2010 World Cup.The award’s emphasis on sporting achievement and social contribution helps explain why Messi’s selection goes beyond his known records. His football career brought him worldwide recognition, while his foundation and UNICEF work helped channel some of that influence into children’s health and education.For Messi, the honor comes after an international career that ended with the highest prize for Argentina and while he continues to play for Inter Miami. It appreciates the footballer’s achievements, but also the values and charitable activities that accompanied them, according to the jury.