Casillas, Xavi awarded Asturias prize in sport

Footballers Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernandez have received the annual sports prize from Spain’s Prince of Asturias Foundation.

Casillas, of Real Madrid, and Xavi, with bitter rival Barcelona, have combined for 253 international appearances in helping Spain to become world football’s dominant team with a first World Cup triumph sandwiched between consecutive European Championships.

The pair, whose candidacy was put forward by FIFA President Sepp Blatter, edged the International Paralympic Committee to win an annual prize of ?50,000 ($65,000) awarded since 1981. They were also 2010 winners when Spain was honored.

Blatter says they ”are an example to follow, representing Spanish unity above the differences of the Real Madrid-Barcelona rivalry.”