Lionel Messi and his teammates from Inter Miami CF were welcomed to the White House on Thursday by Donald Trump as the team celebrated its 2025 Major League Soccer Cup championship.
Messi stood at the center of the ceremony as Miami’s players, head coach Javier Mascherano and club co-owner Jorge Mas joined the president during the event. Trump began his remarks with brief comments on ongoing military developments in the Middle East before shifting his focus to the club’s remarkable achievements during the 2025 season.
While addressing the gathering, the president reflected on the history of football in the United States and recalled the influence of legendary Brazilian footballer Pelé during his time with the New York Cosmos in the 1970s, a period widely regarded as a turning point for the sport’s popularity in the country.
“I shouldn’t say this because I’m old, but I watched Pele play,” Trump said. “I don’t know, you (Messi) may be better than Pele. Pele was pretty good.”
The Inter Miami delegation presented gifts to the president, including a pink team jersey with the number 47, symbolizing Trump’s position as the 47th president of the United States.
During his speech, Trump also acknowledged the contributions of several players, including Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez, emerging talent Tadeo Allende and Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul. At one point, the president made a subtle reference to former U.S. leader Joe Biden while speaking about Messi’s appearance at the White House.
“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,” Trump said, referencing the Argentine star’s absence from a ceremony in January 2025 when Biden awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Trump praised Messi’s winning mentality and the pressure that comes with being one of the most celebrated athletes in the world.
“I’ve seen a lot of great players come into the world of sports,” Trump said. “They come to the Yankees or they come to the Dodgers… and there’s such a clamor. Everything’s great, but they don’t win. This guy won.”
“Leo, you came in and you won. There’s a lot more pressure put on you than anyone would know because you’re sort of expected to win,” he added.
Trump also highlighted Inter Miami’s achievements throughout the 2025 campaign, including their 3–1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the MLS Cup final. He further noted the team’s historic 2–1 triumph over Portuguese club FC Porto during the FIFA Club World Cup, which marked the first occasion a North American side defeated a European club in official international competition.
Speaking on behalf of the club, Mas expressed pride in Inter Miami’s progress since its debut season in 2020. He credited the team’s rise to a strong work ethic and belief in achieving ambitious goals.
Inter Miami’s co-owner emphasized that the club’s global recognition was not solely the result of Messi’s arrival but also the collective effort of the squad.
According to Mas, the players had significantly transformed the perception of football in the United States and demonstrated that American clubs could compete at the highest level internationally.
What you should know
Lionel Messi is widely considered one of the greatest footballers in history.
Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, the Argentine star has helped elevate the club’s global profile and significantly boosted interest in Major League Soccer. Inter Miami’s 2025 MLS Cup victory marked a historic moment for the relatively young franchise, which began play in 2020.
The team’s international success, including victories against top European opposition, has further strengthened the growing reputation of soccer in the United States.
