Lionel Messi is set to receive one of Argentina’s highest academic honours as the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) prepares to confer an honorary doctorate on the legendary footballer.
The university’s Higher Council unanimously approved the award in recognition of Messi’s remarkable football career, his contribution to Argentina and the values he has displayed while representing the national team.
The honorary degree, which is UBA’s highest distinction, is scheduled to be presented to Messi on Tuesday, October 6, ahead of Argentina’s farewell match against Benin at the Monumental Stadium.
In announcing the decision, UBA highlighted what it described as Messi’s “excellence, perseverance, humility and ethical practice”, while also pointing to his longstanding commitment to representing Argentina.
The university specifically recognised his contribution to Argentina’s major international successes, including the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Copa América.
UBA also noted Argentina’s run to the 2026 World Cup final as part of the national team’s recent achievements.
Rector Ricardo Gelpi said the honour was intended to recognise more than Messi’s statistics and accomplishments on the football field.
“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 recognise a humble, persevering person, an example and ambassador of our popular culture and national identity,” Gelpi said.
Gelpi added that Messi’s influence extended beyond his performances as a footballer, particularly through his role in representing Argentina on the international stage.
UBA Vice-Rector Emiliano Yacobitti similarly said the distinction reflected the values Messi had demonstrated throughout his time with 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,” Yacobitti said.
He added that the university and Argentine society intended the honorary doctorate as a broader tribute.
“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,” he said.
Honorary doctorates are a longstanding tradition among universities, allowing institutions to recognise individuals whose achievements and influence extend beyond their professional fields.
Messi’s honour comes at a significant moment in his international career. He is preparing to lead Argentina in what is expected to be his final appearance for the national team when they face Benin at the Monumental Stadium on October 6.
The doctorate presentation will therefore take place just before an occasion expected to mark the end of Messi’s Argentina career, adding another distinction to a period defined by his national team achievements.
