The jury said Messi is the most successful footballer of all time and praised his social work. Princess Leonor gave the award and said Messi has a unique career, reading the game and choosing the best option in fractions of a second.

Messi told the audience, "The most important thing is to know how to lose and how to win," and said attitude is fundamental in football. He has eight Ballon d'Or titles, a World Cup, 21 years at Barcelona, two years at Paris Saint‑Germain and now plays for Inter Miami.

The Princess of Asturias Awards were founded in 1981, are the most prestigious Spanish‑language awards and include a €50,000 prize. From Messi’s words we can learn that humility, quick decisions and learning from both victory and defeat are key to success.