Argentina captain Lionel Messi is set to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) in recognition of his football career and contribution to the country.
The university’s Higher Council gave unanimous approval to granting the honorary degree, which stands as its most prestigious honorary award.
Messi will receive the award on Tuesday, October 6, before Argentina’s farewell match against Benin at the Monumental Stadium.
According to UBA, Messi’s career embodied “excellence, perseverance, humility, and ethical practice,” and the university also underscored his dedication to representing Argentina.
The university pointed to his part in Argentina’s biggest international victories, among them the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2024 Copa América. It likewise acknowledged Argentina’s progress to the 2026 World Cup final.
UBA Rector Ricardo Gelpi stated that the institution wanted the recognition to extend past Messi’s statistics and on-pitch accomplishments.
“Beyond what all Argentinians know about Messi, regardless of the numbers and statistics that attest to his status as an athlete, we also want to recognize a humble, persevering person, an example and ambassador of our popular culture and national identity,” Gelpi said.
He continued that the honor was also meant to acknowledge Messi’s wider influence through sport and the way he represents Argentina.
UBA Vice-Rector Emiliano Yacobitti remarked that the distinction honored the values Messi had shown while playing for the national team.
“Leo Messi knew how to convey the values of the Argentine jersey and represent it with courage and respect and thus managed to take it to the highest level of world football.
“But this honorary doctorate is a recognition that transcends his football career. It is a tribute and a thank you that we offer him from the UBA, on behalf of all of Argentine society,” Yacobitti said.
The university stated that honorary doctorates form part of a long-established tradition among leading higher education institutions, enabling them to acknowledge people whose accomplishments and influence reach beyond their professional areas.
This honor arrives as Messi gets ready for his Argentina farewell match against Benin on October 6 at the Monumental Stadium. The game is anticipated to be his last outing for the national team.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that he has departed Portugal’s international camp and will reveal the reasons why “in time.”
This follows head coach Jorge Jesus’ earlier statement that there was no rift with the captain after claims surfaced that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had refused to train.
Ronaldo has revealed that he thought about retiring from international football following the summer World Cup but chose to carry on as he pursues 1,000 career goals.
He was named in Jesus’ 25-man squad for the current international break and started the opening Nations League match against Wales.
Yet the Al-Nassr forward was absent from Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway in Oslo on Sunday and did not join his team-mates in applauding the visiting fans at the final whistle.
Instead, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United player made his way to the changing rooms—sparking reports that he was unhappy with the manager.
Speaking to the media ahead of Portugal’s Nations League match against Denmark on Thursday, Jesus said, “There was no incident whatsoever.
“Any player—and I was a player myself—when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don’t get on, no-one is happy about that.”
Jesus stated that he had told Ronaldo before the match he would not be starting but might be brought on later in the game.
“Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It’s nothing to make a fuss about,” he added.
Jesus, the former Benfica manager, also rejected claims that Ronaldo had refused to train on Tuesday, explaining that the 41-year-old instead needed to perform individual exercises for “mobility” and “strengthening” but would train as usual on Wednesday.
Yet Ronaldo did not take to the pitch with his teammates in Denmark, as Portuguese media circulated a video of him leaving Parken stadium with two members of the backroom staff.
The player then turned to Instagram to share news of his departure.
“After the press conference of the national team and following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team training camp,” he wrote.
“In time, I will tell all the Portuguese the truth about the reasons that motivated me to leave.”
Goncalo Ramos netted the winner against Norway, and Jesus had stated that the AC Milan forward would once again be chosen ahead of Ronaldo for the Denmark game.
“If I need [Ronaldo], he’ll come on. If I don’t need him, he won’t.”
The Portuguese Football Federation subsequently confirmed Ronaldo’s exit in a statement, which added: “Preparation for the two matches against Denmark and Norway continues as planned with the 24 remaining squad members.
“The whole delegation stays entirely focused on the national team’s upcoming fixtures and on reaching the set objectives.”
