Spanish petitions seek to revoke Messi's Princess of Asturias Award over World Cup conduct

Calls are mounting in Spain to revoke Lionel Messi's Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, following controversial incidents during and after the 2026 World Cup final. The Argentine superstar was announced as a recipient of the prestigious award on June 3rd, recognized for his "dazzling talent," career achievements, and social work.

However, multiple petitions have emerged on the Change.org platform, gathering signatures to prevent the award ceremony, scheduled for October. According to Spanish radio station COPE, there are around 30 such petitions. These Spanish initiatives argue that Messi, as captain of Argentina, holds responsibility for the controversies that arose, which they deem an affront to sportsmanship and the values the award represents.

Arguments presented in the petitions include accusations of alleged "disdain" towards the Spanish national team and the country itself. Petitioners claim Messi remained indifferent to aggressive behavior from some of his teammates towards Spanish players. They also point to the widely discussed moment when the Argentine team turned their backs to the Spanish public while celebrating their World Cup victory, and Messi's alleged request for the expulsion of Spanish player Marc Cucurella during a conversation.

While some petitions have garnered only a few hundred signatures, a couple have reached over 1,200 and 2,400 signatures, indicating a notable level of public sentiment against Messi receiving the award in Spain. The Princess of Asturias Foundation typically awards individuals and organizations for outstanding achievements in various fields.