Messi, Reward of the night in Oviedo

There is no better way to close a week than with Messi walking into a theater in Oviedo and collecting another individual award. The little one from Rosario was honored with the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports during the ceremony held at the Campoamor Theater.

The morning had its own protocol. At the Hotel de la Reconquista, Princess Leonor handed each honoree the Foundation's badge. Messi's package also included a sculpture by Joan Miró, a diploma and 50,000 euros. An award with more ceremony than a locker-room celebration, and probably better shelf life.

The event was part of the 46th edition of the awards and brought together eight honorees from different disciplines and fields. Messi attended alongside his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and received affectionate gestures from people gathered at various points in the city.

A career measured by titles

The Foundation justified the distinction by highlighting Messi's 49 titles and the regularity of his performance over time. Its statement described him as one of the most successful footballers in history, with an exceptional and sustained sporting impact.

Among those titles are club honors and achievements with the Argentine national team, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. His connection with Spain is also part of the story: much of his career unfolded at Barcelona, where he won most of his European trophies.

“Considered the most successful footballer of all time, with 49 titles in his record, his professional career is characterized by an exceptional and very regular sporting impact over time.”Princess of Asturias Foundation

The award in Oviedo adds another line to Messi's long list of individual recognitions. Unlike a title earned in ninety minutes or over a season, this type of institutional prize points to a broader legacy: not only what he won, but how long he kept competing at the highest level.

For me, the value lies precisely there. The trophies count because they are accompanied by years of work, pressure and public scrutiny. A career that lasts, with titles spread across clubs, competitions and national teams, deserves a recognition that does not fit neatly into a single evening.

Messi has received the award in a year that also recognizes a wider group of leading figures. His presence in Oviedo was not a separate story: it was the football chapter of a ceremony devoted to people who left a mark on their disciplines.

• The ceremony took place at the Campoamor Theater in Oviedo.
• Princess Leonor presented the badges during the morning audience at the Hotel de la Reconquista.
• Messi received a Joan Miró sculpture, a diploma and 50,000 euros.
• The award marks a career with 49 titles, including the 2022 World Cup.
• Messi was accompanied by Antonela Roccuzzo during the day's events.

The individual honors keep growing. The important part is the résumé behind them. And if the table of honor is used to measure greatness, Messi remains the name that everyone has to look at, even when the ball is no longer at his feet.

Standings: Messi, at the top of the individual honors table and, for this occasion, the protagonist of the night in Oviedo.