Lionel Messi had been dubbed the 'King of Football' and the best player in history after clinching the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports.AFP via Getty ImagesFC Barcelona icon Lionel Messi has been dubbed the “King of Football” and the “best footballer of all time” after receiving the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports.Catalan newspaper SPORT lavished those titles on the Argentine and ran off his trophy haul, which currently stands at 47.Thirty five came with the club of his life Barca, while he collected five for his country, three with Paris Saint-Germain and four at his current employers Inter Miami.Individually, Messi has eight Ballon d’Or awards for being the world’s best player. Six Golden Boots are there too, as Europe’s top scorer over a storied era at the Spotify Camp Nou which ran from 2004 to his free transfer departure in 2021.This month, Messi will help Argentina defend the World Cup crown that finished off his collection in Qatar four years ago, in what could be his international football swansong.Despite turning 39 on June 24, Messi is tipped to continue playing considering he signed a conract extension through 2028 with Inter Miami in October 2025.Lionel Messi is just the third football player to receive the Princess of Asturias Award for SportsHis fellow La Masia graduate and former teammate Xavi Hernandez did so in 2012, when it was given jointly to Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas as well.MORE FOR YOUThat came as a reaction to them clinching the Euros together during the national team’s golden era.While sealing the Euros in 2008 as a group, a Barca-heavy La Roja outfit lifted a maiden World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and then went on to enjoy further continential glory two years laer.The award was more significant than usual at the time, however. It arrived during an era when Jose Mourinho had tried to sow divisions among Barca and Real Madrid’s Spanish stars, which reportedly led to a fall out between the Portuguese and Casillas.With Madrid trophyless across the past two seasons, Mourinho is likely to be appointed its manager once more. He must try and dethrone a dominant Hansi Flick, who has won five out of six Spanish titles over that period.Recently asked if he held a grudge against Mourinho ahead of the May Clasico that Barca won to guarantee La Liga, Casillas insisted it’s not the case and used social media to reiterate his stance.“I have no problem with Mourinho,” Casillas tweeted on X. “I think he's a great professional. I just don't want him at Real Madrid.“I believe other coaches would be better suited to manage the club I love. That’s just my personal opinion. Nothing more,” Casillas added.Unlike in his first tenure, Mourinho won’t have to deal with Lionel Messi but instead his heir to the number 10 shirt, Lamine Yamal.