Ricky Martin added another accolade to his collection at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.
The singer, 53, became the first-ever recipient of the Latin Icon Award during the Sunday, September 7, ceremony at UBS Arena in New York. The award was presented to him by friend Jessica Simpson, who opened for him on his Livin La Vida Loca tour in 1999.
“This is very simple, this is for you all,” Martin said while addressing fans in his acceptance speech. “Thank you for your applause; I’m addicted to your applause. It’s not only you here in America but you all over the world. It’s been 40 years … I started when I was a baby working and we’re still here. We just want to unite countries, we want to break boundaries. We just want to keep music alive.”
Martin also dedicated his award to his children. (He welcomed twin sons Matteo and Valentino, 17, via surrogate. Martin also shares daughter Lucia, 6, and son Renn, 5, whom he welcomed via surrogate with ex-husband Jwan Yosef, whom he was married to from 2017 to 2023.)
“Everything I do, I do it with you in my mind and in my heart,” he said.
Martin’s Latin Icon honor comes 26 years after his VMAs debut performance in 1999. He made history at that ceremony too, becoming the first male Latin artist to win Best Pop Video for his crossover hit “Livin’ la Vida Loca.” He was also the night’s most-awarded artist, taking home a total of five Moonman statues, including for Best Dance Video, International Viewer’s Choice: MTV Latin America (North), International Viewer’s Choice: MTV Latin America (South) and International Viewer’s Choice: MTV Russia.
Earlier this year, Martin reflected on his legacy as an international artist.
“Nowadays it doesn’t matter [what language you sing in]. It’s about the transparency and the honesty that you’re interpreting, that people will get it,” he told The Project in April. “I think this is a phenomenon that’s kind of happening now again with artists like Bad Bunny, for example, whose music is being heard around the world, all in Spanish.”
Of the “beautiful” experience of carving a path for other Latin artists, Martin said, “I’ve worked hard all my life. I’ve enjoyed everything that I’ve done, and if the steps that I’ve taken will help new artists know what to do or what to avoid, why not?”
Shortly before the VMAs, Martin offered an update on his life via Instagram.
“Fresh cuts. Flights. Secret projects in motion. Sacred stops along the way. And inFLUenza type A (came to visit while on vacation) reminding me I’m human,” he wrote on August 21 alongside a photo dump that showed him traveling, having meetings, focusing on self-care and resting while sick. “What you’re not looking at: me slowing down. Not this month.”
