Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami CF teammates paid a special visit to the White House, where they were welcomed by Donald Trump to celebrate the club’s historic Major League Soccer title victory.
The Florida-based side secured the league championship for the first time in the club’s history in December, marking a milestone moment for the franchise co-owned by football legend David Beckham. Ahead of their MLS clash with D.C. United in Washington on Saturday, the squad accepted an invitation to the White House, where they stood on stage as Trump addressed reporters and praised their achievement.
During his remarks, Trump shared a personal anecdote involving his son, saying Barron had been especially excited about Messi’s presence. “My son said, ‘Dad, do you know who’s going to be there today?’ I said, ‘No, I’ve got a lot of things going on.’ He said, ‘Messi!’ He’s a big fan of yours,” Trump told the Argentine star.
Messi, now 38, recently committed his future to the Miami club by signing a contract extension that will keep him with the team until 2028. Since arriving in the United States, the former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward has continued to dominate the league, becoming the first player in MLS history to win the Most Valuable Player award in consecutive seasons. Ronaldo had also previously been hosted by Donald Trump.
Praising the football icon’s remarkable career, Trump noted that Messi had just secured the 47th trophy of his career — widely regarded as the most by any player in the sport. “You could have gone anywhere in the world, any team in the world, and you chose Miami,” he said, thanking the superstar for helping elevate the league’s global profile.
In a lighthearted moment, Trump even compared Messi to Brazilian legend Pelé. “I shouldn’t say this because I’m old, but I watched Pelé play,” he joked. “I don’t know — you may be better than Pelé. Pelé was pretty good.”
