diff --git a/EasyFortniteStats-ImageApi.csproj b/EasyFortniteStats-ImageApi.csproj
index 7097937..a019066 100644
--- a/EasyFortniteStats-ImageApi.csproj
+++ b/EasyFortniteStats-ImageApi.csproj
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@
     </PropertyGroup>
 
     <ItemGroup>
-        <PackageReference Include="AsyncKeyedLock" Version="7.1.6" />
-        <PackageReference Include="SkiaSharp" Version="3.119.0" />
-        <PackageReference Include="SkiaSharp.NativeAssets.Linux.NoDependencies" Version="3.119.0" />
-        <PackageReference Include="Swashbuckle.AspNetCore" Version="9.0.4" />
+        <PackageReference Include="AsyncKeyedLock" Version="7.1.7" />
+        <PackageReference Include="SkiaSharp" Version="3.119.1" />
+        <PackageReference Include="SkiaSharp.NativeAssets.Linux.NoDependencies" Version="3.119.1" />
+        <PackageReference Include="Swashbuckle.AspNetCore" Version="9.0.6" />
     </ItemGroup>
     
     <!-- Include asset files -->
diff --git a/Middleware/ApiKeyAuthenticationMiddleware.cs b/Middleware/ApiKeyAuthenticationMiddleware.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5b55ea7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Middleware/ApiKeyAuthenticationMiddleware.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+namespace EasyFortniteStats_ImageApi.Middleware;
+
+public class ApiKeyAuthenticationMiddleware(RequestDelegate next, IConfiguration configuration)
+{
+    private readonly string? _apiKey = configuration["API_KEY"] ?? Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("API_KEY");
+
+    public async Task InvokeAsync(HttpContext context)
+    {
+        // If no API key is configured, skip authentication
+        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(_apiKey))
+        {
+            await next(context);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // Check if Authorization header is present
+        if (!context.Request.Headers.TryGetValue("Authorization", out var extractedApiKey))
+        {
+            context.Response.StatusCode = 401;
+            await context.Response.WriteAsync("API Key is missing");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // Validate the API key
+        if (!_apiKey.Equals(extractedApiKey))
+        {
+            context.Response.StatusCode = 401;
+            await context.Response.WriteAsync("Unauthorized client");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        await next(context);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Program.cs b/Program.cs
index bba0778..2395262 100644
--- a/Program.cs
+++ b/Program.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 using AsyncKeyedLock;
 using EasyFortniteStats_ImageApi;
+using EasyFortniteStats_ImageApi.Middleware;
 
 var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
 
@@ -18,6 +19,9 @@
 
 var app = builder.Build();
 
+// Add API Key authentication middleware
+app.UseMiddleware<ApiKeyAuthenticationMiddleware>();
+
 if (app.Environment.IsDevelopment())
 {
     app.UseSwagger();
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e78426a..df73088 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 # EasyFortniteStats ImageAPI
+
 This is the internal API written in C# to generate the images for the [EasyFortniteStats Discord Bot](https://easyfnstats.com).
 
 ## Usage
-This api isn't intended to be used in any other Discord related projects. Also commercial use is not allowed. This project can be used in following cases: 
+
+This api isn't intended to be used in any other Discord related projects. Also commercial use is not allowed. This project can be used in following cases:
+
 - Private non-commercial use
 - Public non-commercial projects (with credit)
 - Educational use
-- Open source projects (with credit)
\ No newline at end of file
+- Open source projects (with credit)