Lionel Messi, the Argentine football star, returns once again to the land where he made history and is set to follow a tight schedule over 48 hours. This trip is to receive an award from the Princess of Asturias Foundation and also to have dinner with the King and Queen of Spain.
Messi's Itinerary in Spain
Messi will arrive in the city of Oviedo on Thursday morning and, after settling in the area, will speak at the Sports Palace of the city in front of attendees. However, his main program takes place at night; when Messi will have dinner with the King and Queen of Spain. On Friday, he will attend the awards ceremony and receive the Princess of Asturias Foundation Award.
This trip is short, and afterward, Messi will immediately fly to New York to participate in the match of Inter Miami against New York Red Bulls. These tight schedules reflect the special attention given to Messi and his status in global football.
Details of the Princess of Asturias Foundation Award
The Princess of Asturias Foundation Award will be presented to Messi by a jury consisting of sports figures, journalists, and cultural management activists. In this round, 27 candidates from 12 different nationalities are competing for this award. This award is the sixth of a total of eight awards to be presented this year, with the ceremony taking place in October in the city of Oviedo and attended by the Spanish royal family.
The award includes a sculpture by Joan Miró and a cash prize of 50,000 euros. However, the symbolic value of the award far exceeds its monetary amount and refers to Messi's social and cultural impact on society.
Messi has been working as a UNICEF ambassador since 2010 and supports projects in education and health for vulnerable children through the Leo Messi Foundation. This aspect of his activities may be less visible, but it holds significant importance in assessing his impact on society and football.
The jury of this award has emphasized the social dimensions of Messi's personality and his status as a globally recognized figure. Throughout his professional career, Messi has repeatedly shown that his legacy is not measured solely by numbers and statistics, but also by the impact he has made both on and off the football field, which constitutes an important part of his status.
