Barcelona paused to celebrate one of the defining figures of its modern history after Lionel Messi received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports.
The Argentine, now long removed from his 17-season first-team spell in Catalonia, was congratulated by FC Barcelona in a multilingual message published on X. The club framed the distinction as recognition not only of Messi’s footballing stature, but also of his commitment to the sport and his charitable work.
Quick facts
- Lionel Messi has been awarded the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports.
- FC Barcelona issued its congratulations through a multilingual post on X.
- Messi spent 17 seasons with Barcelona’s first team.
- He scored 672 goals for the club.
- Barcelona highlighted his sporting excellence, global influence and solidarity work.
In its tribute, Barcelona described the award as thoroughly deserved, praising the talent that made Messi a worldwide football reference and left a lasting mark both on the pitch and beyond it.
The message also returned to the enduring link between player and club. Barcelona said the relationship formed an inseparable part of its own legacy, stressing its pride that Messi remains connected to the institution.
For supporters in the city, the numbers still give the bond its scale: 672 goals across 17 first-team campaigns. But Barcelona’s response to the Asturias honour placed equal weight on the wider footprint of a player whose career has travelled far beyond the stadiums where he first became a global name.
