The 30th Fair Play Menarini International Award will honor football legends Diego Milito and Emilio Butragueño among its winners at a ceremony on July 2, 2026, at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence, Italy.
Football Icons Recognized for Sportsmanship
Diego Milito, known as 'El Príncipe,' is celebrated for his extraordinary career across Argentina, Spain, and Italy. He is best remembered for his pivotal role in Inter Milan's historic 'Treble' in 2010, scoring two goals in the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich. Emilio Butragueño, nicknamed 'El Buitre,' was a symbol of Real Madrid in the 1980s and a key figure in the club's most successful eras.
Award Highlights Fair Play Values
The award, dedicated to the highest values in sport, has for three decades celebrated fair play as a universal heritage. The addition of Milito and Butragueño enriches a list of exceptional champions who have achieved triumphs on the field and are ambassadors of true sportsmanship.
“We welcome two international football stars who have left a deep mark on the sport not only through their successes, but also through the way in which they achieved them,” said Luca Lastrucci, Valeria Speroni Cardi, and Filippo Paganelli, members of the Board of the Fair Play Menarini Foundation. “Milito and Butragueño share the same values that unite all the protagonists of the 30th Fair Play Menarini Award, confirming themselves as extraordinary examples of sport and fairness.”
Complete List of 2026 Winners
The 2026 edition winners include: Achille Polonara (basketball), Antonella Palmisano (race walking), Armand Duplantis (pole vaulting), Bebe Vio (paralympic athletics), Chiara Mazzel (paralympic ski), Daniele Garozzo (fencing), Davide Ghiotto, Michele Malfatti, and Andrea Giovannini (ice skating), Diego Milito (football), Emilio Butragueño (football), Fabio Caressa (journalism), Gianfranco Zola (football), Gregorio Paltrinieri (swimming), and Simone Anzani (volleyball).
