Home » Sports » Cricket » International » India

The ultimate honor: Why Lionel Messi just won Spain’s ‘Nobel Prize’

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Premios Princesa de Asturias (@fundacionprincesadeasturias)

Times of India

Published: Friday, 23 October 2026 at 4:49 PM

Key Things to Know

Lionel Messi received Spain's prestigious Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, becoming its first individual footballer recipient.
The award recognized Messi's sporting achievements alongside his charitable work for vulnerable children through UNICEF and his foundation.
Messi was presented with the honor in Oviedo, Spain, before King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Lionel Messi received Spain's 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports at the Teatro Campoamor in Oviedo on Friday, October 23. Often described as Spain's equivalent of the Nobel Prize, the distinction makes the 39-year-old Argentine forward the first footballer to receive the award individually.

The jury selected Messi from 27 candidates, recognizing his sporting achievements, humility, and charitable contributions through UNICEF and the Leo Messi Foundation. Messi, who holds Spanish citizenship, joins previous recipients including Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams.

Read the full article on Times of India

The ultimate honor: Why Lionel Messi just won Spain’s ‘Nobel Prize’

More India Cricket Team News

Never Miss a Sports Update