Lionel Messi, Inter Miami honored by Trump at White House - ESPN

Inter Miami attended a White House reception on Thursday to celebrate winning MLS Cup for the first time in club history, with captain Lionel Messi presenting a gift to President Donald Trump.

Messi entered the East Room alongside Trump and Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas and later handed the president a signature Miami pink soccer ball. Trump also received a Miami jersey and watch from Mas and head coach Javier Mascherano.

It was the first White House visit for Messi, who joined Miami in July 2023, and follows fellow soccer great — and longtime Messi rival — Cristiano Ronaldo attending a dinner there last November.

«We're honoring truly talented people,» Trump said, while flanked by Messi and Mas with the rest of Miami's squad behind him. «It's my distinct privilege to say what no American president has ever had the chance to say before: 'Welcome to the White House, Lionel Messi.'

»My son said, 'Dad, do you know who's going to be there today?' I said, 'No, I got a lot of things going on.' He said, 'Messi.'

«He's a big fan of yours. He thinks you're just a great person. And I think you got to meet a little while ago. So he's a big soccer fan, but he's a tremendous fan of yours. And a gentleman named Ronaldo. Cristiano is great. You're great.»

Miami lifted the 2025 MLS Cup on Dec. 6, defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in Fort Lauderdale, and the Argentinian superstar was named the league's MVP for the second consecutive season.

«Leo, you came in and you won, and that's something very hard to do, very, very unusual and frankly, there's a lot more pressure put on you than anyone would know, because you sort of expected to win, but almost nobody wins,» Trump said.

Among the other Inter Miami stars in attendance were Luis