The controversy emerged weeks after Messi was announced as the recipient of the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on June 3. The petitions have also prompted questions about whether the Princess of Asturias Foundation has a mechanism to revoke an award after announcing a recipient. Currently, no public announcement confirms any review or formal investigation regarding Messi’s award. Debate extends beyond Messi’s awardThe calls to revoke Messi’s distinction form part of a broader reaction that followed the World Cup final. As of July 30, the Princess of Asturias Foundation had not issued a public response to the petitions, and Messi remained the announced recipient of the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports.