Messi to Attend Princess of Asturias Award Ceremony Before Inter Miami’s MLS Clash
Lionel Messi is set to make a brief return to Spain next week to receive the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sport, then travel back to the United States in time to rejoin Inter Miami for their Major League Soccer meeting with the New York Red Bulls. The schedule puts the Argentine forward on a demanding transatlantic trip, but head coach Javier Mascherano says he has no concerns about Messi’s availability or ability to feature.
The award ceremony will take place in Oviedo on October 22, only two days before Inter Miami are due to face the Red Bulls in Harrison, New Jersey. With Miami already preparing for the MLS play-offs, Messi’s travel plans have naturally drawn attention. Mascherano, however, has made clear that the club supports the trip and expects its captain to be ready for the match.
Mascherano backs Messi’s trip to Oviedo
Speaking on Friday, Mascherano said Messi’s attendance at the ceremony was important both personally and professionally. He described the honour as significant not only for the player, but also for his family, and said the club was united in its view that Messi should be present to accept it.
“I’m very happy with the way he is handling it,” Mascherano said, according to ESPN. He added that he intends to count on Messi for the New York Red Bulls fixture, expressing confidence in the forward’s ability to manage the journey and return to the team.
The coach’s comments suggest Inter Miami are not treating the award appearance as a reason to rule Messi out or automatically limit his involvement. Still, the final decision about his workload will depend on how he feels after travelling and rejoining the squad. A long flight, a formal ceremony and a quick turnaround can be demanding even for an experienced athlete, making recovery and preparation important in the days before kick-off.
A landmark honour for football’s most decorated star
The Princess of Asturias Awards recognise exceptional contributions across a range of fields, including literature, social sciences, scientific and technical research, international cooperation and sport. Messi was selected for the 2026 sports honour in June, becoming the first individual footballer to receive the award.
The recognition reflects a career that has reached far beyond match results and personal statistics. Messi’s achievements on the pitch have made him one of football’s defining figures, while his international profile and charitable work have helped extend his influence beyond the sport. The award’s focus on both professional accomplishment and broader impact gives the ceremony added meaning for the player and his family.
When the honour was announced, Messi said he felt “enormously proud” and grateful. He noted that the recognition was not limited to his work on the pitch, but also acknowledged his contributions away from it. His response underlined why the award is more than another addition to an already remarkable collection of individual prizes: it celebrates the wider significance of his career.
Inter Miami balance a busy schedule with play-off ambitions
Messi’s trip comes during a crucial stretch of Inter Miami’s season. The club secured its place in the 2026 MLS play-offs last Wednesday and sits second in the Eastern Conference. With the post-season approaching, every remaining league fixture offers an opportunity to build rhythm, protect the team’s position and sharpen preparations for the knockout rounds.
Before travelling to face the Red Bulls, Miami are scheduled to visit Atlanta United on Saturday. That match gives the team an immediate test before the Oviedo ceremony and the quick return to New Jersey. The short gap between fixtures means Mascherano and his staff will need to manage the squad carefully, particularly if travel affects recovery time.
Messi’s individual campaign is also a major storyline. He leads the MLS Golden Boot race with 23 goals, four ahead of FC Dallas striker Petar Musa. Maintaining that advantage would strengthen his case for another standout season, although the team’s broader objective will be to enter the play-offs in strong form rather than focus solely on individual records.
What the schedule could mean for the Red Bulls match
For Inter Miami supporters, the key question is whether Messi can make an immediate impact after returning from Spain. Mascherano’s confidence is reassuring, but the club may still take a measured approach to his minutes depending on his condition. A short appearance, a full start or a late fitness assessment are all possibilities in a busy part of the calendar.
From a football prediction perspective, Messi’s presence would be a significant factor against the Red Bulls. His scoring form, creativity and ability to influence decisive moments make him central to Miami’s attacking threat. Yet the outcome will also depend on the supporting cast, the team’s defensive organisation and how effectively Miami handles the travel-heavy week.
The sequence is demanding: a match against Atlanta, a journey to Oviedo for a major international honour, then a rapid return for another MLS contest. Mascherano believes Messi can manage it, and the player’s experience of high-pressure schedules offers reason for confidence. The final test will come on the pitch, where Miami will hope their captain’s award-winning week ends with another valuable result as the play-offs draw closer.
