La Vanguardia reports that Messi landed at Asturias airport at 10:25 on Thursday, 22 October, escorted by up to eight Guardia Civil cars, with about fifty fans waiting for him.
The Premio Princesa de los Deportes 2026 ceremony takes place on Friday, 23 October, at the Teatro Campoamor, under the presidency of the Royal Family.
At 17:30 on Thursday, 22 October, Messi takes part in 'Toma la palabra' at the Palacio de los Deportes, where ABC reports about 4,700 children are involved and tickets sold out in 13 minutes after more than 16,000 requests.
Leo Messi arrived in Asturias on Thursday, 22 October. La Vanguardia reported that he landed at Asturias airport at 10:25 under heavy police protection, with up to eight Guardia Civil cars around him, while about fifty fans waited for him. He was barely visible behind the tinted windows of the car that took him to the Asturian capital. Europa Press reported that he reached the Hotel de la Reconquista in Oviedo shortly after 13:00 with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo. Bagpipers gave him the traditional welcome to the Principality, and Teresa Sanjurjo, director of the Fundación Princesa de Asturias, received him. Crowds pressed against barriers around the hotel, and Messi stopped to sign Barcelona and Argentina shirts and pose for photos, with nearly ten bodyguards around him.
Messi is receiving the Premio Princesa de los Deportes 2026, which Europa Press describes as one of the most anticipated honours of this edition. The ceremony takes place on Friday, 23 October, at the Teatro Campoamor under the presidency of the Royal Family, and Princess Leonor is expected to play a particularly prominent role. The jury praised his talent, his sporting career and his sustained solidarity work to expand access to education and health care for disadvantaged children. He is described as the most successful footballer of all time, with 47 titles to his name. Europa Press also reports that he was the last of the laureates to arrive in Oviedo.
At 17:30 on Thursday, Messi takes part in the 'Toma la palabra' series at the Palacio de los Deportes in Oviedo, where he is due to speak about his career and about values that go beyond his talent with the ball. ABC reports that about 4,700 children are taking part in a school activity called 'El juego del 10' linked to the programme. Tickets for the encounter sold out in 13 minutes after more than 16,000 requests. ABC also reports that Messi has no press conference planned.
The visit is short. Europa Press reports that Messi will fly to New York once the award ceremony ends, because his club, Inter Miami, plays the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, 24 October. For that reason he is likely to miss the dinner that follows the gala. The schedule leaves little time in Asturias beyond the ceremony and the Thursday event.
Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina, and played youth football at Newell's Old Boys before moving with his father to Barcelona at the age of 13 to join La Masia. He made his first-team debut in 2004 and spent more than fifteen years at Barcelona. He then played for Paris Saint-Germain and joined Inter Miami, a club he is still linked to. La Vanguardia notes that he has not played in Spain for more than five years.
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Leo Messi reached Oviedo on Thursday, 22 October, ahead of Friday's award ceremony at the Teatro Campoamor. He was greeted by bagpipers and fans, signed shirts and posed for photos before a public talk with schoolchildren.
AI text based on reports by europa press, LaVanguardia and ABC TU DIARIO EN ESPAÑOL. Published .