Lionel Messi and Inter Miami Commemorate MLS Cup Triumph at the White House Under President Trump
President Trump honors Lionel Messi and Inter Miami at the White House following their victory in the 2025 MLS Cup.
On Thursday, Inter Miami and their captain, Lionel Messi, were honored at the White House in recognition of the club’s inaugural Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup victory. During the East Room ceremony, Messi presented a signature Miami pink soccer ball to President Donald Trump. Co-owner Jorge Mas presented Trump with a Miami jersey and a watch, while head coach Javier Mascherano participated in celebrating the event.
This was Messi’s inaugural visit to the White House following his move to Inter Miami in July 2023. Last November, fellow football legend Cristiano Ronaldo graced the White House with his appearance. Trump greeted Messi with enthusiasm, describing him as “truly talented” and highlighting that no American president had ever had the chance to host the Argentinian superstar before.
Trump shared a personal story about his son, who looked up to Messi, highlighting the player’s impact both in the game and beyond. “Leo, you entered and you triumphed, and that’s an incredibly challenging feat, quite rare,” Trump remarked, emphasizing the pressure Messi encountered and the extraordinary accomplishment of winning back-to-back titles.
On December 6, Inter Miami clinched the 2025 MLS Cup, triumphing over the Vancouver Whitecaps with a score of 3-1 in Fort Lauderdale. For the second consecutive season, Messi received the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Among the other team members present were Luis Suárez, Tadeo Allende, and Rodrigo De Paul. MLS Commissioner Don Garber was present with Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House World Cup task force, and former baseball star Alex Rodriguez.
Following the reception, Trump welcomed the team to the Oval Office, upholding the cherished tradition of American presidents recognizing championship-winning sports teams. The White House has honored MLS teams such as D.C. United in 1998 and LA Galaxy in 2011, 2012, and 2014.
Messi received an invitation to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the Biden administration in January 2025; however, he was unable to attend because of prior commitments, which highlights the ongoing recognition of his contributions to soccer and his impact on the sport globally. At Thursday’s event, Trump reflected on his memories of watching Brazilian legend Pelé play for the New York Cosmos and remarked to Messi, “You may be better than Pelé,” which elicited applause and interaction from the audience.
Jorge Mas shared his thoughts on the development of Inter Miami, expressing, “We can compete with the big boys; we can compete with the heavyweights.” Our league has the potential to rank among the best in the world. Mas highlighted the club’s commitment to dreaming, persevering, and overcoming obstacles, attributing the MLS Cup triumph to determination and effort.
Since its inception in 2020, Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, has swiftly ascended in American football, culminating in the 2025 MLS Cup victory, which Mas characterized as “very, very well deserved” and a reflection of the team’s quality and commitment.
