Lionel Messi don receive di 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Oviedo, Spain, and di Argentina star use di trip greet fans wey gather to welcome am, ESPN report.
Al Jazeera tok say dem give am di Spanish award as recognition for im social work. Di honour come for a period wey Messi name dey everywhere for football talk.
Di 39-year-old no go dey London for di 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony wey dey hold for di Palladium, even though dem name am among di 30 nominees for record 17th time. Khel Now carry di tori say Messi set to skip di event. Journalist Fabrizio Romano also reveal for im social media account say di No. 10 no go attend, so e go dey watch from far this time.
The Times of India report say di big names don land London Palladium for di ceremony, with Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane among di players wey show face, but Messi, one familiar face, no dey ground.
Messi name for di nominee list no be ordinary decoration. Na im be di most decorated player for Ballon d’Or history with eight titles. Im first win come for 2009 when e still dey Barcelona, and e follow am with wins for 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Im eighth trophy for 2023 come after e lead Argentina win World Cup for Qatar, and e be record wey fit last for many years.
For anoda side, Barca Universal report say one Barcelona midfielder don call for farewell match for Messi, and e describe am as di best player of all time. Di midfielder name no dey inside di report, but im call add to di conversation about how Messi career suppose end for di club wey make am famous.
