Global football icon Lionel Messi met U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House during a special reception honoring Inter Miami CF for winning their first Major League Soccer (MLS) title.
Messi and his Inter Miami teammates were welcomed by the U.S. president in Washington, where the team was invited to celebrate their historic championship victory. The club secured the MLS title last December, marking the first league triumph in its history.
The team is co-owned by former England captain David Beckham, and Messi played a crucial role in their title-winning campaign. Inter Miami visited the White House before traveling to play a match against D.C. United in Washington.
During the event, Messi and his teammates stood on stage while Trump praised the team’s achievement and highlighted Messi’s extraordinary career.
In a light-hearted moment, Trump said his son Barron Trump had been excited about Messi’s visit.
“My son Barron asked me, ‘Dad, do you know who is coming today?’ I said I didn’t because I had a lot going on. Then he said, ‘Messi!’ He is a huge fan of yours and thinks you’re an incredible person,” Trump told the Argentine star.
Messi, now 38, recently extended his contract with Inter Miami until 2028. The former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint‑Germain forward has also made history in MLS by becoming the first player to win the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in consecutive seasons.
Praising the Argentine legend, Trump said Messi had won the 47th trophy of his remarkable career — the highest tally in football history.
“You could have played for any club in the world, but you chose Miami. Thank you for making all of us part of this journey,” the president said.
He also joked about the long-standing debate over football’s greatest player, saying that although he had watched Pelé play, Messi might even be better.
To mark the occasion, Messi presented Trump with a signed football as a gift, making the moment even more memorable.
