Argentine football star Lionel Messi has been awarded the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, in recognition of his outstanding sporting achievements and humanitarian contributions.

The jury praised Messi’s accomplishments with the Argentine national team and the clubs he has represented, as well as his initiatives supporting children’s education and healthcare.

The award is scheduled to be presented during an official ceremony in the Spanish city of Oviedo next October, attended by members of the Spanish royal family, ahead of Messi’s anticipated participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.