Story by Oliver Obel
Spain fans petition to strip Lionel Messi of Princess of Asturias award
A significant backlash from Spain fans has emerged following the 2026 World Cup final, with numerous petitions launched to revoke Lionel Messi’s recently awarded Princess of Asturias Award for Sports. The prestigious Spanish honour, announced on June 3 with an official presentation scheduled for October, is now under scrutiny due to Messi’s conduct during and after Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain on July 19.
Upon the announcement of the award, Messi expressed his gratitude, stating, “The truth is that for me it is a great pride to be able to receive this recognition because of the importance it has and for the fact that it is recognised not only for what I do on the pitch but also off the pitch. I am very happy, and very grateful. I wanted to let you know and send a big hug to everyone. Thank you and see you soon.” The Princess of Asturias Award jury had cited his “exceptional sporting career and his formidable and continued charitable work,” alongside his “exemplary behaviour on the field and for his consistency, humility and commitment to the team game.”
Controversial 2026 World Cup final incidents
The controversy stems from the World Cup final, held at the New York New Jersey Stadium, where Spain secured victory with a Ferran Torres goal in extra-time. Argentina notably failed to register a single shot on target over 120 minutes, while Spain managed 12 shots on target from 20 attempts. Following the match, FIFA initiated an investigation into whether Argentina’s players and coaching staff violated disciplinary codes, with reports from GiveMeSport indicating altercations involving Leandro Paredes and assistant coach Roberto Ayala.
entral to the fan outrage is an incident involving Messi, 39, and Spain defender Marc Cucurella. Messi is criticised for allegedly attempting to get Cucurella sent off after the Spanish player momentarily covered his mouth while speaking. A new rule at the 2026 World Cup stipulated that players covering their mouths risked a straight red card, a rule that saw Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron and Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie both dismissed earlier in the tournament.
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Further fueling the petitions was the sight of Messi and his Argentina teammates turning their backs as Spain’s Rodri lifted the World Cup trophy. While Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez offered an explanation, insisting it was not a deliberate act of disrespect, the gesture has been widely condemned by Spanish supporters and media. Spanish national team coach Luis de la Fuente described the post-match incidents as “intolerable and unacceptable,”
an backlash and calls for revocation
As a result of these incidents, over 30 separate petitions have been created on Change.org, demanding the Princess of Asturias Foundation “withdraws, revokes or reconsiders” Messi’s award. These petitions, reported by Europa Press, argue that Messi displayed “unsportsmanlike and contrary to the values of respect” behaviour during the tournament’s finale. One petition, initiated by a user named Javier, has already garnered over 1,500 signatures, with Javier stating, “Messi showed unsportsmanlike behavior contrary to the values of respect and ‘fair play’ that sport promotes.”
Despite the controversy surrounding his post-final conduct, Messi had a strong individual tournament performance, scoring eight goals and providing four assists throughout the 2026 World Cup.
