Who have achieved the most important titles with their clubs and the Spanish Football Squad, are an example of fair play that is admired by all. They have jointly shown a conciliatory attitude that has smoothed out traditional differences between players and supporters.
Is the goalkeeper and captain of Real Madrid and the Spanish football squad.
Forged in the Madrid club's youth teams from the under-10s onward, he joined the first team in the 1999-2000 season.
Considered the best goalkeeper in the world, he has won:
Committed to helping the needy, he has created the Iker Casillas Foundation to promote and develop activities that contribute to improving the health and quality of life of children and to promoting gender equality.
He is Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and collaborates in solidarity campaigns of other organisations such as Plan International.
Is midfielder for FC Barcelona and the Spanish football squad.
He played in Barça's first team in 1998, having come up through the youth teams.
Considered the brain and playmaker of the team, he has won:
At its meeting in Oviedo, the Jury for the 2012 Prince of Asturias Award for Sports, made up of Mr José María Abad Casamayor, Mr José Antonio Abellán Hernández, Mr Óscar Campillo Madrigal, Mr Miguel Carballeda Piñeiro, Ms Marisol Casado Estupiñán, Mr Josep María Casanovas i Punti, Mr Enrique Castro "Quini", Mr Ignacio Gómez-Acebo del Solar, Mr Juan Carlos González "Xuancar", Ms María del Carmen Izquierdo Vergara, Ms Laura Martínez Martin, Mr Javier Muñoz Gallego, Mr Santiago Nolla Zayas, Mr Ángel Rodríguez Berriguete, Ms María Rodríguez Escario, Mr Juan Antonio Samaranch Salisachs, Mr Josep Lluis Vilaseca i Guasch, chaired by Ms Arancha Sánchez-Vicario Santacana and with Mr Ignacio Martínez García acting as secretary, has decided by majority vote to confer the 2012 Prince of Asturias Award for Sports on the soccer players Iker Casillas y Xavi Hernández.
The Jury considers that these players of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona symbolize the values of friendship and companionship that go beyond the all-out rivalry of their respective teams. Their sportsmanship is a model for young people.
Both players, who have achieved the most important titles with their clubs and the Spanish Football Squad, are an example of fair play that is admired by all. They have jointly shown a conciliatory attitude that has smoothed out traditional differences between players and supporters.
Iker and Xavi have kept up a close friendship since 1999, when they won the Under-20s World Cup in Nigeria with the Spanish team, and this relationship has been strengthened over time above and beyond clashes and passions.
Oviedo, 5th September 2012