The National Football Team receives the International Sport Award from the Community of Madrid

The Spanish National Team, represented by coach Luis de la Fuente and internationals Joselu Mato and Alejandro Grimaldo, received the International Sport Award from the Community of Madrid this Monday. This prestigious award, according to the president of the Community, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, recognises the “sacrifice, ambition, and humility” of a team that amazed everyone with their success in the last European Championships, not only with the excellent result but also the values the group conveyed.

The event took place at the newly rebuilt football pitch in Villamanta, following the devastating impact of last year’s storm DANA. The coach and the aforementioned international players, Joselu Mato and Alejandro Grimaldo, attended the event, where they toured the new facilities and spent some time chatting, signing autographs, and taking photos with the hundreds of locals who had gathered at the venue. Also present were Álvaro de Miguel, Secretary General of the RFEF, and Paco Díez, President of the Madrid Football Federation.

Luis de la Fuente expressed his gratitude at receiving this award and reiterated the importance of conveying positive social values through sport, with the National Team serving as an example of commitment and teamwork, key ingredients that give true meaning to the word ‘team’.

For her part, Díaz Ayuso thanked the international players for their presence and wished Dani Carvajal a speedy recovery after he suffered a severe injury last weekend. “His screams still haunt us all; it is heartbreaking to see someone we love and appreciate so much here in the city of Madrid in such a situation.”

The National Team joins the ranks of stars like Rafael Nadal, Pau Gasol, Fernando Alonso, and the Quinta del Buitre, who have previously received this award. The regional government has thus recognised the achievement of a team that has now won four European Championships (1964, 2008, 2012, and this year), becoming the team to have lifted the continental trophy the most times.