Fan Cuts Own Hand to See Messi as Oviedo Welcomes the Argentine Star
Lionel Messi has arrived in Spain, but this time not for football. The Argentine superstar has come to the country he knows so well to receive the Princess of Asturias Award. He is spending time in the city of Oviedo with his wife Antonela, and thousands of fans are crowding to catch a glimpse of him — one fan even cut his own hand just to see Messi.
Amid the cheers and applause of thousands of fans, Messi was welcomed to Oviedo. Arriving around 7am, he checked in at the Hotel de la Reconquista. Within a short while, the hotel's main entrance filled with fans and journalists.
After resting in his room for a while, Messi came out wearing black formal attire. He took photos with fans and signed autographs on Argentina national team and Barcelona jerseys, flags and various other items. The football magician also received many gifts from fans, including a tray of alfajores — a special biscuit made with Argentine sweets and cornstarch.
Nobody in the city wanted to miss the chance to see Messi. TyC Sports reported that a young fan deliberately cut his own hand with a knife from his office so that he would not have to go to work and could see Messi up close. The incident has become a striking example of the level of frenzy surrounding Messi.
Messi's schedule for the award is packed. He will exchange views with schoolchildren at the Sports Palace. He will join a lunch at the hotel with the other laureates, where Princess Leonor de Borbón y Ortiz of Asturias will present him with a commemorative pin. In the evening, Messi will also attend a dinner with the King and Queen of Spain alongside the other winners.
On Friday afternoon, Messi will attend the formal award ceremony at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo. The honour is being given in recognition of his illustrious sporting career as well as his commitment to ensuring education and healthcare for the world's most disadvantaged children.
Receiving the honour, an emotional Messi remembered his late father. He said, 'To be honest, I am very happy. Actually, my father was very excited about this award. We knew it would be difficult to come here because of my many matches. But my father kept insisting that we come, that I spend these few days here and receive the award.'
Messi added, 'What a person does on the field, or what I have done in my professional career, this award is recognition of something more than that. To be honest, he would have been very happy if I received this recognition. So I am sure he is still enjoying it too.'
For Messi, who spent a long career in Barcelona, returning to Spain always means a festival for fans. That emotion was visible in the crowd gathered in front of the hotel holding Argentina and Barcelona jerseys.
Right after the ceremony, Messi will board a flight to New York. There, his club Inter Miami will play the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer on Saturday. So immediately after the joy of the award, the Argentine star must return to battle on the field.
All in all, the Oviedo trip is not just an award reception for Messi — fulfilling his late father's wish, the love of the fans and recognition of his contribution off the field have together made it one of the most emotional chapters of his career.
