Lionel Messi awarded Creu de Sant Jordi for service to Catalonia

The 'Creu de Sant Jordi', an award created in 1981, is handed to individuals and institutions who have served Catalonia and the protection of the region's identity. Barcelona's captain Lionel Messi was honored with the award yesterday (Thursday) by the Generalitat de Catalunya, in a ceremony held at the Auditori del Fòrum. Barcelona's president Josep Maria Bartomeu and technical secretary Eric Abidal were among the large entourage that accompanied Messi to the event.

Messi is one of 28 persons and organizations that have been bestowed with the honor. He is just the third Barcelona player to receive the Creu de Sant Jordi. Juan Antonio San Epifanio and Johan Cruyff are the first two Barcelona athletes to have received the award - in 1996 and 2006 respectively.

According to the Generalitat de Catalunya, Messi was decorated "due to his fabulous sports career, in which he has been recognized as the greatest footballer of all time. A native of Argentina, he arrived in Catalonia at a very young age to join the lower categories of Futbol Club Barcelona. In a sport for the masses, like football, Leo Messi embodies such basic social attributes as humility, honesty, education, creativity, teamwork, and respect." The Generalitat also recognized his charitable works, stating Messi had "created the Leo Messi Foundation, which works for the benefit of children and youth, having collaborated with several medical centers in Catalonia, among which stands out his contribution to the construction of the Sant Joan de Déu Pediatric Cancer Center."

Lionel Messi is Barcelona's most titled player - 34 titles, and is the club's top scorer as well - 600 goals. He is also the player with the most wins in Barcelona's history - 486 wins. Barcelona (the club) received the award as an institution in 1992.

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