Washington [US], March 6 (HBTV): US President Donald Trump welcomed Lionel Messi and his team Inter Miami CF to the White House on Thursday, celebrating the club’s victory as the 2025 Major League Soccer Cup champions during a ceremony, according to a report by Reuters.
Members of the Inter Miami squad presented Trump with a jersey bearing the number 47, referencing him as the 47th president of the United States, along with a football and a watch in the club’s signature pink colour.
Trump welcomed Messi to the White House, describing it as a privilege to honour the football legend.
'It's my distinct privilege to say what no American president has ever had the chance to say before, welcome to the White House, Lionel Messi,' Trump said, as quoted by Reuters.
With the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be co-hosted by the United States alongside Canada and Mexico, Trump also praised Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano and other football icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazilian legend Pelé, while reserving special praise for Messi and the Florida-based club.
'Leo is the reigning FIFA World Cup MVP. You could have gone anywhere in the world. You could have chosen any team in the world, and you chose to go to Miami. I don't blame you. The weather's extremely good,' Trump said.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held across 16 cities from June 11 to July 19 and will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams.
Looking ahead to major global sporting events, Trump also noted that the United States will host both the World Cup and the Olympic Games.
'This summer, we have the World Cup and the Olympics,' he said.
Argentina will enter the tournament as the reigning champions of both the FIFA World Cup and the Copa América.
Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi had earlier been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former US President Joe Biden in January 2025, although Messi was unable to attend the ceremony due to scheduling conflicts.
(ANI)