Joan Laporta posted a moving tribute to Lionel Messi on X, saying: “Congratulations on receiving the 2026 Princess of Asturias Sports Award, a well‑deserved honor for your footballing and human achievements. Your talent helped enlarge FC Barcelona, the club of your life, yesterday, today and always. Messi and the club share a success story we Barcelona fans cherish and hope endures forever.”
Meanwhile, on TVE’s Telediario, the Barça president declared that a rare bond formed between a singular player and a club whose footballing identity fit Messi perfectly – a match I consider unforgettable.
In the same segment, Andrés Iniesta exclaimed, “It’s been a privilege, a sheer joy, that someone like Leo existed.” Jorge Valdano added, “Argentina seemed to have no one who could follow Maradona, yet another football genius emerged – the improbable became reality.” Will future generations witness another talent that reshapes the sport?