Lionel Messi is facing an unusual backlash in Spain, where more than 30 separate petitions on Change.org are demanding that the Princess of Asturias Foundation revoke, or at least reconsider, the sports award it handed him barely two months ago — after his conduct during and after the World Cup final infuriated a section of Spanish fans.
Messi was named winner of the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on June 3, becoming the first individual footballer to receive one of Spain's most prestigious honours. The formal presentation ceremony, usually a grand royal occasion in Oviedo, is scheduled for October.
The row traces back to July 19, when Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup final, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute as Argentina, reduced to ten men, fell agonisingly short of a successive title.
What tipped fans from disappointment into outrage, according to the petitions, was Messi's behaviour in the closing stages and at the trophy ceremony. He appeared to push for Marc Cucurella to be sent off after the Spain defender briefly covered his mouth while talking during play — an act that, under this tournament's directive, risked a straight red card.
The complaints go further than the Cucurella incident. Petition organisers also point to Argentine players turning their backs during the medal presentation and to further confrontations in the tunnel area after the final whistle, framing the episode as a pattern of disrespect rather than a single flashpoint.
One of the largest petitions, started by a campaigner identified only as Javier, had gathered more than 1,500 signatures by late July. It argues Messi showed "behaviour that is not sportsmanlike and disrespectful," contradicting "the values of honour and integrity that sport promotes." A second, from an organiser named Laura, contends that revoking the prize would "restore trust in the fairness and rigour of these honours."
English-language outlets covering the same campaign, including GiveMeSport and Colombia One, put the tally at roughly 30 petitions in total, with the biggest nearing 3,000 signatures as of July 30 — a reminder that the numbers are moving quickly and vary slightly depending on when each outlet checked.
The controversy has not stayed confined to online petitions. FIFA has opened a disciplinary investigation into the scenes after the final whistle, with reports naming Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes and assistant coach Roberto Ayala among those whose conduct is under review.
According to ONE, Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente described the post-match scenes as "intolerable and unacceptable," adding an official voice to the criticism aimed at the Argentina camp.
The Princess of Asturias Foundation itself has made no public statement on whether it will act on the petitions, and the October ceremony remains on the calendar for now. Whether a wave of online pressure translates into any formal reconsideration of Messi's award is, at this stage, an open question.
