The President of the United States, Donald Trump, welcomed the players of Inter Miami this Thursday at the White House, including Argentine star Lionel Messi, in a ceremony to celebrate the team's title in last season's Major League Soccer (MLS).
This is Messi's first visit to the White House and also the first face-to-face meeting between the Argentine footballer and Trump, who in the past has also welcomed Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo. In fact, the president placed photos of both in the Oval Office.
During the reception, the Inter Miami players gifted the U.S. president a club jersey with the number 47, referring to Trump's presidential number.
Messi and Trump had previously met last November at the American Business Forum, an event held in Miami that featured various international figures such as Argentine President Javier Milei, actor Will Smith, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and former tennis players Serena Williams and Rafa Nadal, although they did not get to meet in person on that occasion.
It is worth remembering that Messi was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January 2025 during the final days of Joe Biden's administration, although the captain of Inter Miami and the Argentine national team could not attend the ceremony due to scheduling commitments.
Filed under: