President Donald Trump welcomed Lionel Messi and the Inter Miami team to the White House on March 5, during their inaugural visit to the presidential residence. The occasion marked a celebration for the team’s victory in the Major League Soccer 2025 championship. During the event, the 47th President of the United States also took the opportunity to commend recent U.S. and Israeli military operations targeting Iran, addressing Messi and the entire team.
Inter Miami, led by captain Lionel Messi and co-owner Jorge Mas, received a warm reception from President Trump. The Argentine superstar walked alongside the President en route to a meeting room within the White House complex. As a symbol of the championship celebration, Messi was presented with a distinctive pink ball, personally signed by President Trump, commemorating Inter Miami’s triumph in the MLS Cup 2025.
During his address, President Trump candidly admitted that he had not been aware of Messi’s extraordinary talent until his son, Barron Trump, an avid soccer fan, brought the 38-year-old striker’s achievements to his attention. President Trump expressed his admiration, stating, “It is truly an honor for me to say that no American President has ever had the opportunity to say these words before: Welcome Lionel Messi to the White House. Messi is the best player in the FIFA World Cup. You have been everywhere in the world and you could choose any team in the world for your career, but you chose to join Inter Miami.”
President Trump further highlighted his son’s fervent support for Messi, noting that Barron considers him second only to football icon Cristiano Ronaldo. Recalling a past interaction, it was mentioned that Ronaldo himself had visited the White House in November 2025, accompanying Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for a meeting with the U.S. President.
Leveraging the high-profile gathering, the 79-year-old American President also lauded the performance of the U.S. military and its allied forces from Israel. He specifically referenced their operations against Iran over the preceding week. President Trump affirmed, “The American military, together with our great ally Israel, continues to completely destroy the enemy. We have destroyed many Iranian missiles and drones.”
Looking ahead, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is slated to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with matches scheduled from June 11 to July 19, 2026. This landmark tournament will feature an expanded format with 48 teams participating for the first time in its history. Lionel Messi is expected to lead Argentina, competing as the reigning champions after their triumph in the 2022 World Cup.
