Who was named Latin Icon at the 2025 MTV VMAs?

Ricky Martin was named Latin Icon at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.

The Latin Icon Award was one of two new special honors introduced at the 2025 VMAs. Ricky Martin received it in recognition of his decades-long impact on Latin pop and his role in bringing Spanish-language music to a broad international audience. Jessica Simpson presented the award, and J Balvin introduced Martin.

Martin’s VMA history reaches back to his worldwide breakthrough with “Livin’ la Vida Loca.” At the 1999 VMAs, that song won both Best Pop Video and Best Dance Video, making Martin one of the ceremony’s most prominent Latin artists well before the 2025 tribute.

The other special honor introduced that year was the Rock the Bells Visionary Award, presented to Busta Rhymes. Bad Bunny, Maluma and J Balvin are all major Latin artists, but none was the 2025 Latin Icon recipient. The award specifically went to Martin.