Lionel Messi was honoured with Spain’s prestigious Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on Friday, recognising his extraordinary football career and his efforts to improve access to healthcare and education for disadvantaged children.

The 39-year-old Argentine forward was announced as the award’s recipient in June, with the jury praising him as “the most successful footballer of all time” and highlighting his charitable work.

Fans wearing Argentina football shirts gathered in Oviedo, the capital of the northern Spanish region of Asturias, cheering and chanting Messi’s name as he arrived at the ceremony accompanied by the sound of bagpipes and drums.

Messi received an official parchment from Princess Leonor, heir to the Spanish throne, who praised the footballer’s remarkable achievements and described his career as unique.

“He turned the extraordinary into routine by reading the game and deciding on the most effective option in fractions of a second, while respecting the collective essence above ego,” Leonor said.

Widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, Messi has won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards, lifted the FIFA World Cup with Argentina and collected numerous major trophies at club level.

He spent 21 years at Barcelona, becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and helping the Catalan giants dominate Spanish and European football under managers Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.

After departing Barcelona in 2021, Messi spent two seasons with French champions Paris Saint-Germain before joining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where he continues his career.

The Argentine icon also holds his country’s records for international goals, assists and appearances. Earlier this year, he announced the end of his international career following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the World Cup final in New Jersey.

Speaking at an event with children in Oviedo on Thursday, Messi reflected on the importance of handling both success and disappointment.

“The most important thing is to know how to lose and how to win,” he said, describing the attitude as fundamental to football.

Established in 1981, the Princess of Asturias Awards are among the most prestigious honours in the Spanish-speaking world. Each recipient receives prize money of €50,000, with awards recognising achievements across fields including sport, the arts and science.

The annual ceremony celebrates contributions to human coexistence, solidarity and international cooperation.

Other recipients honoured on Friday included British author Julian Barnes, American astronaut Christina Koch and musician Patti Smith.

Previous winners of the sports award include tennis legends Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, marathon world-record holder Eliud Kipchoge and American skiing star Lindsey Vonn.