In a high-profile sporting and political event, US President Donald Trump welcomed Argentine star Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team to the White House on Thursday to honor them following their Major League Soccer championship win. This meeting underscores the growing prominence of soccer in the United States, especially with a legend of Messi's stature at the forefront of the sporting scene.
Behind the scenes of Trump's reception of Messi and the talk about Pele
Messi led the delegation, flanked by his teammates, coach Javier Mascherano, and club co-owner Jorge Mas. During the meeting, Trump spoke at length about the team's achievements over the past year, recalling Brazilian legend Pelé's time with the New York Cosmos in the 1970s and its profound impact on soccer in the United States.
In a spontaneous moment, Trump addressed the Argentine star, saying, “I shouldn’t say this because I’m old, but I watched Pelé play. I don’t know, maybe you’re better than Pelé. He was an excellent player.” The players presented gifts to the American president, including a pink team jersey with the number 47, a symbolic reference to his being the 47th president of the United States.
The implications of the visit and the future of football before the 2026 World Cup
Trump's reception of Messi carries special significance beyond the usual protocolary honors accorded to sports heroes at the White House. This event comes at a time when the United States is preparing to host the 2026 World Cup, and Messi is considered the game's foremost ambassador in North America. The presence of a global icon like Messi in Major League Soccer has not only raised the league's level of play but has also boosted its commercial and fan appeal worldwide.
Trump also singled out Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, rising Argentine star Tadeo Allende, and his compatriot Rodrigo De Paul, praising the world-class combination the team has to offer.
Political messages and global achievements for Inter Miami
The meeting was not without its political undertones, as Trump made a sarcastic remark to former President Joe Biden. Trump said, “It is a special honor for me to say what no other American president has ever had the chance to say: Welcome to the White House, Lionel,” implicitly referring to Messi’s absence from the ceremony where Biden awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January 2025.
Trump added, praising Messi's immediate impact: "I've seen a lot of great players come into the world of sports... and all this hype happens. It's all great, but they don't win. This guy did," pointing at Messi, and continued: "Leo, you came in and you won. There's more pressure on you than anyone can imagine, because everyone expects you to win.".
Trump reviewed Inter Miami’s achievements in the 2025 season, not only mentioning their 3-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup final, but also praising their historic 2-1 win over Porto in the Club World Cup, the first time a North American team had beaten a European team in an official competition, reflecting the development of American soccer and its ability to compete with global standards.
At the end of the meeting, Jorge Mas, the son of two Cuban immigrants, responded to Trump's congratulations, stressing that Inter Miami's rise since its first season in 2020 was based on a philosophy of hard work, saying: "Inter Miami's success at the global level is not just because of Lionel Messi, but these guys standing behind you have changed the culture of soccer in the United States forever.".
