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Sunday, 18 October 2026dailybeirut.com
Football
Lionel Messi's upcoming appearance in Oviedo drew over 16,000 simultaneous online users as all 4,700 free tickets sold out within thirteen minutes.
The Princess of Asturias Foundation distributed 4,700 complimentary passes for the Argentina star’s scheduled engagement on Sunday morning at 10am. Demand proved immediate and overwhelming, with the entire allocation exhausted in just thirteen minutes. This rapid sell-out underscores the intense public interest in seeing the Inter Miami player during his visit to Spain next Thursday.
Data from Marca indicates that server connections to the foundation’s website reached a maximum of 16,200 concurrent users. The volume of simultaneous requests highlights the scale of anticipation surrounding the event. These digital queues formed part of the broader cultural program linked to the 2026 Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony.
Judges selected the Argentine for the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, citing his exceptional athletic career. They also acknowledged his sustained humanitarian efforts aimed at improving education and healthcare access for disadvantaged children. His award collection is set to occur twenty-four hours after the community event.
The gathering will take place at the Palacio de los Deportes in the Asturian capital. It is specifically designed for children and young people. In addition to the 4,700 individuals who secured seats online, 1,500 members of the educational community are expected to attend. These students participated in the "Game of Number 10" activity, which operates under the foundation's "Take the Floor" cultural initiative.
Interest extended beyond the Messi event to other components of the schedule. Tickets for two free concerts featuring American singer Patti Smith in Gijon and Oviedo were also claimed within minutes. Furthermore, a night-watching event in Oviedo reached its capacity limit. Astronaut Christina Koch is scheduled to headline this session, where she will discuss milestones from her career and experiences during space missions.
