Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has reflected on his remarkable spell at the Spanish club, describing his time at Camp Nou as difficult to put into words.

Messi returned to Spain to collect the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports at a ceremony in Oviedo, where he spoke about his memories of playing alongside some of Barcelona’s greatest stars.

The Argentine, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, recalled sharing a dressing room with Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol, highlighting the trophies they won and the enjoyment they experienced both on and off the pitch.

“It was a privilege to share a dressing room with Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol and so many others. We were fortunate enough to win everything, and to do it the way we did: how much we enjoyed playing, winning and achieving great things. But above all, we enjoyed our day-to-day life, the training sessions; we had a wonderful time,” he told EFE.

Reflecting further on his time at the club, Messi said his experiences in Barcelona left him with lasting memories and a special emotional connection to both the city and the team.

“It is difficult to sum up in a few words. I experienced so many incredible moments and obviously hold a very, very special affection for both the city and the club.”

Messi was announced as the recipient of the award earlier this year, becoming the first individual footballer to receive the honour from the Princess of Asturias Awards committee.

The committee recognised not only his achievements on the pitch but also his sustained charitable efforts to improve access to education and healthcare for disadvantaged children.

“In addition to his dazzling talent, his exceptional sporting career and his remarkable and sustained charitable work to promote access to education and healthcare for the most disadvantaged children,” a statement read.

The award committee also praised Messi’s conduct, humility and commitment to teamwork throughout his illustrious career.

“Leo Messi, the player who has won the most titles in the history of football, has also earned the respect and admiration of everyone for his exemplary behaviour on the field and for his consistency, humility and commitment to the team game.”