Argentine football icon Lionel Messi has expressed gratitude after receiving the prestigious Princess of Asturias Award for Sports in Spain, describing the recognition as a special honour and thanking supporters for their warm reception.
The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward shared photographs from the ceremony on Instagram on Saturday, congratulating fellow award recipients and thanking the Princess of Asturias Foundation for recognising his contributions to football.
Messi also spoke about his return to Oviedo, saying he enjoyed the visit and appreciated the affection shown by fans. The Argentine, who was accompanied by his wife Antonela Roccuzzo, received the award on Friday as hundreds of supporters gathered to catch a glimpse of the World Cup-winning captain.
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The award recognises Messi’s exceptional career, sporting achievements, humility and commitment to football, along with his contributions to the wider community.
During his visit, the former Barcelona captain also reflected on the responsibilities associated with representing a major club, explaining that the role extends beyond performances on the pitch.
Messi highlighted that being part of a club involves several responsibilities before players even arrive for training or matches, with football itself representing only one aspect of their commitments.
His visit attracted considerable attention in Spain, where he spent much of his illustrious club career with Barcelona before leaving the Catalan side in 2021.
Messi captained Argentina to the FIFA World Cup title in Qatar in 2022 and has continued his career with Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
