Cristian Kily González backs Lionel Messi’s Spain award trip before MLS match

Published: 17 October 2026 · 09:07 GST

Inter Miami coach Cristian “Kily” González has backed Lionel Messi’s planned trip to Spain to receive the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, with the visit set to take place two days before a scheduled MLS fixture, according to ESPN FC.

ESPN FC reported that González confirmed Messi will travel next week for the ceremony before rejoining Inter Miami for the league match two days later. The award is one of the most prominent honours in Spanish sport and culture, and Messi is due to collect it in person, as reported by the outlet.

The report did not indicate any change to Inter Miami’s plans around the player’s trip, and González was described as relaxed about the timing of the journey.

FootballNews.ae publishes updates and summaries based on information reported by trusted and official sources. Where appropriate, we provide links to original reporting and official announcements for further reading.