The Catalan government will announce the delivery of the Creu de Sant Jordi award to Lionel Messi for his outstanding services in Catalonia.

Messi will receive the Cross of Sant Jordi as a token of appreciation for his achievements throughout his career & the fact that he's spent his whole career with Barça.

The 31-year-old will be the second footballer in history to receive the award. Johan Cruyff received the award in 2006.

The Creu de Sant Jordi (in English 'St George's Cross') is one of the highest civil distinctions awarded in Catalonia (Spain), surpassed only in the protocol by the Gold Medal of the Generalitat de Catalunya. It was established by the Generalitat de Catalunya autonomous government by virtue of the Decret 457/1981 de 18 de desembre in 1981.

In total, the award be granted to 29 individuals and 15 organisations for their outstanding services to the region.

"[Messi] is recognised as the best football player of all time," pointed out the Generalitat de Catalunya.

"[He embodies] social attributes as primordial as humility, honesty, learning, creativity, sense of team and respect."