Lionel Messi is becoming the focus of debate in Spain after a group of fans launched a campaign requesting the Princesses of Asturias Foundation to consider withdrawing the prestigious award that the Argentine superstar was awarded before the 2026 World Cup.
The Princess of Asturias Award is one of Spain's prestigious titles, awarded annually to honor individuals and organizations with outstanding contributions in many fields such as art, science, literature, international cooperation and sports.
Messi was honored for his achievements in his playing career, along with charity activities through the Lionel Messi Foundation. When receiving the award, the striker born in 1987 expressed his honor to be recognized in the country where he spent most of his career playing for Barcelona.
In the award announcement, the organizers assessed that Messi is not only one of the most successful players in football history but also made his mark with educational support and medical care activities for children in difficult circumstances. At the same time, he is recognized for his dedication, humility and professional image on the pitch.
However, after the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, many Spanish fans expressed dissatisfaction with some actions of Messi as well as the Argentine players. On social media platforms, many opinions suggest that Messi reacted unrestrainedly when asking the referee to issue a red card to defender Marc Cucurella. Besides, the way the Argentine captain performed at the awards ceremony also became a controversial topic.
Since then, an online petition has been launched, calling on the Princess of Asturias Foundation to consider revoking the title awarded to Messi. According to published information, the petition has attracted thousands of signatures.
However, up to now, the Princess of Asturias Foundation has not made any announcements about considering or withdrawing Messi's award. Therefore, the related information is only at the level of petitions from a part of fans and there has been no official decision from the awarding unit.
