Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami CF teammates visited the White House on Thursday, where they were welcomed by United States President Donald Trump to celebrate the club’s historic Major League Soccer title win.
The visit came months after Inter Miami secured their first-ever Major League Soccer championship in December, marking a milestone for the Florida-based club.
Messi and his teammates stood alongside Trump during a ceremony in Washington, where the president congratulated the team and praised the Argentine forward’s achievements. Trump also revealed that his son, Barron, was excited about the football star’s presence at the event.
“My son said, ‘Dad, do you know who’s going to be there today?’ I said no because I had a lot going on,” Trump said. “He said, ‘Messi!’ He’s a big fan of yours.”
The White House visit took place ahead of Inter Miami’s MLS fixture against D.C. United scheduled for Saturday in Washington.
Messi, 38, recently committed his future to Inter Miami by signing a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2028. The former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint‑Germain forward has continued to dominate the league since arriving in the United States.
He became the first player in MLS history to win the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in consecutive seasons.
During the ceremony, Trump highlighted Messi’s extraordinary career achievements, noting that the Argentine had claimed the 47th trophy of his career.
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“You could have gone anywhere in the world, any team in the world, and you chose Miami,” Trump said. “I just want to thank you for bringing us all on this ride.”
The president also compared Messi with Brazilian football legend Pelé, whom he said he once watched play, adding that the Argentine star might even surpass the iconic forward in greatness.
Inter Miami is co-owned by former England captain David Beckham, who helped establish the club as a growing force in American soccer. The White House visit marked another landmark moment for the franchise following its historic MLS Cup victory.
