Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and his teammates were honored at the White House on Thursday by President Donald Trump, following their victory in the 2024 Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup. The Argentine forward, who joined the Florida-based club in 2023, was also named the league’s Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season after Inter Miami defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps.
During the ceremony, President Trump highlighted the pressure that accompanied Messi’s arrival, stating, “Leo, you came in and you won, and that’s something very hard to do.” Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, did not speak at the event but was joined by teammates Luis Suárez, Tadeo Allende, and Rodrigo De Paul. Also present were MLS Commissioner Don Garber, retired baseball star Alex Rodriguez, and members of Trump’s cabinet. Inter Miami became the first MLS team to visit the White House during Trump’s presidency.
The visit marks Messi’s first trip to the White House. He had previously been invited by the Biden administration to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2023 but was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts. Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas使用的 the occasion to emphasize the club’s impact on U.S. soccer, stating, “We can play with the big boys, we can play with the heavyweights. Our league can be one of the top leagues in the world.” The team will remain in the Washington, D.C., area to face D.C. United in an MLS match this weekend.
The ceremony briefly touched on broader geopolitical issues. President Trump opened with remarks on the conflict with Iran but did not directly link it to the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Iran, qualified for the 48-team tournament set to begin on June 11, is scheduled to play group stage matches in California and Washington state. Following recent U.S. and Israeli military action, Iran’s soccer federation chief, Mehdi Taj, expressed doubt about his nation’s participation with “hope.” When asked about Iran’s potential presence, Trump told Politico, “I really don’t care… I think Iran is a very badly defeated country.”
No team has ever withdrawn from a World Cup after qualifying in the tournament’s 75-year modern history. The global event will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer, with Messi expected to represent Argentina.
The White House celebration underscored Inter Miami’s rapid rise and Messi’s enduring influence, while the shadow of international affairs introduced an uncommon layer of political tension to the soccer festivities.
