On October 15, Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi was awarded the Princess of Sports Award, becoming the first athlete to receive it alone. The award, considered the highest recognition in Spain, closes a career that began in the FCBarcelona youth academy and that has left an indelible mark both on and off the field.
Since his first steps in the club's academy, Messi attracted the attention of coaches and managers for his technique and vision of the game. According to club sources, an Argentine lawyer, JoséMateo, who had fled the Videla dictatorship, was the one who drafted Maradona's contracts with Barça and also helped formalize Messi's relationship with the club. Mateo gave the coaches a video of the player's childhood, where you could see his agility and ability to penetrate, something that surprised the base coaches, including Asensi, Costas and Charly.
FCBarcelona organized a tournament of players of the same age against youth players, where Messi stood out and won the trophy with a memorable performance. His talent caught the attention of the Spanish team, although the decision was to postpone his incorporation to preserve his development. The club's head doctor, Dr.Bestit, oversaw a growth program that allowed the young man to improve his physical and technical capabilities.
The highlight of his career came when the club fielded him as a right winger at the CampNou against Capello's Juventus. The match ended with a victory for Barça and the intervention of Juventus, who were impressed with Messi's performance. According to reports, Capello herself and goalkeeper Buffon requested that he sign for Juventus, but the player decided to stay at the CampNou, where he settled in Castelldefels with a group of Argentines who helped him integrate.
The award not only recognizes his sporting excellence, but also the values that he has transmitted throughout his career. At the ceremony, Messi thanked his father, Jorge, who died on August 8, for his unconditional support. Messi's father, who had remained in Barcelona when the family moved, was the one who supported the young man when things got difficult, making sure he did not give up on his dreams. The footballer expressed that his father's legacy is still present in every game and in every gesture inside the stadium.
With the award, Messi consolidates his status as the best player of all time and reinforces his commitment to sport and the community. FCBarcelona and the Sports Princess Association celebrate his career, while the club's future focuses on continuing its legacy of excellence and sporting values.