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The 2026 World Cup has ended, but the controversy continues for Lionel Messi: his behavior during the championship left a large portion of fans around the world upset, and they are now demanding that the corresponding authorities revoke the Princess of Asturias Award he was granted a few months ago.
Messi and the Argentine national team lost the 2026 FIFA World Cup to Spain, and since then, millions of fans have harshly criticized the players for their attitude throughout the World Cup, especially in the final, where they turned their backs on the 'Furia Roja' as they were celebrating their victory.
Because of this behavior, social media users launched a signature campaign to request that the Argentine soccer player be stripped of the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, one of the most prestigious recognitions in the sports world.
The petition, titled "Revoke the Princess of Asturias Award from Lionel Messi," states that certain behaviors attributed to Messi during the tournament are incompatible with the values represented by said award.
"In the recent soccer World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, Messi, as captain of the Argentine national team, displayed behavior that can be considered unsportsmanlike and contrary to the values of respect and fair play that sports promote. This type of attitude does not align with the principles that the Princess of Asturias Award aims to support and make visible. Messi's behavior during this decisive match does not represent the values we wish to highlight and promote for our future generations. Awards should be reserved for those role models who serve as examples to follow, and we feel that on this occasion, Messi's behavior was not in accordance with such ideals," states the campaign, which already has more than four thousand signatures.
Ultimately, the signatories emphasized the following: "We ask the Princess of Asturias Foundation to reconsider its decision to maintain the award granted to Lionel Messi. We request that they evaluate the importance of his recent actions and their impact on the prestige of the award. We believe that withdrawing this recognition would send a clear message about the importance of maintaining exemplary conduct in all facets of life, especially in the sports arena."
¿Qué es el Premio Princesa de Asturias?
The Princess of Asturias Award for Sports recognizes individuals or institutions each year whose careers represent an outstanding contribution to international sports. Messi received this recognition for his athletic career, his global impact on soccer, and the values associated with his professional trajectory.
¿Cuándo ganó Messi el Premio Princesa de Asturias?
The Argentine player won the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on June 3, 2026. The jury granted him the award for his talent, his sports career, and his charitable work focused on the health and education of disadvantaged children.
[Publicidad]