Argentine football star Lionel Messi has been awarded the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, with the announcement made on Wednesday by the jury responsible for selecting the winner.

According to the Princess of Asturias Foundation, Messi was chosen in recognition of a career marked by sustained excellence, exceptional sporting achievements, and global impact on football.

Born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, Messi began his football journey at Newell’s Old Boys before joining FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy at the age of 13. He made his senior debut in 2004 and went on to become one of the most decorated players in the history of the sport.

During his long spell at Barcelona, he won 35 trophies, including four UEFA Champions League titles, 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, three FIFA Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, and eight Spanish Super Cups.

He later moved to Paris Saint-Germain before joining Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer, where he currently plays.

On the international stage, Messi has won two Copa América titles and famously led Argentina to victory at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Messi has accumulated 47 career titles and numerous individual honours, including eight Ballon d’Or awards, three FIFA The Best awards, and six European Golden Boots.

He also holds the Guinness World Record for most goals scored in a calendar year, with 91 goals in 2012, and has twice been named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.

The Foundation noted Messi’s resilience in overcoming childhood health challenges and praised his consistency, humility, and commitment to teamwork, as well as his humanitarian work through the Leo Messi Foundation and his role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

A total of 27 nominations from 12 countries were considered for this year’s sports category.

The Princess of Asturias Awards, now in their 46th edition, recognise achievements across eight categories. Other 2026 winners include Patti Smith (Arts), Studio Ghibli (Communication and Humanities), and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (International Cooperation).

The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in October in Oviedo, Spain, and will be presided over by the King and Queen of Spain, alongside the Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofía.

Each laureate receives a Joan Miró sculpture, a diploma, an insignia, and a cash prize of €50,000.