Messi, Inter Miami honoured at White House after MLS Cup Victory

Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates were hosted by US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday afternoon, March 5, (local time) to celebrate the club’s first-ever Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup triumph.

Inter Miami, co-owned by former England captain David Beckham, clinched the MLS championship in December. The team visited the White House ahead of their Saturday match against DC United in Washington.

On stage with the team, Trump praised Messi, noting the Argentine superstar’s commitment to Inter Miami until 2028 and his record-setting career, including back-to-back MLS Most Valuable Player awards.

Trump said Messi had won the 47th trophy of his career, the most of any player, and lauded him for choosing Miami despite opportunities worldwide. “You could have gone anywhere in the world, any team in the world, and you chose Miami,” Trump said.

Trump also compared Messi to football legend Pele, adding, “I watched Pele play. You may be better than Pele.”

Messi, 38, who joined Inter Miami in 2023 after stints with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, has played a key role in raising MLS’s international profile.

During the visit, he gifted President Trump a ball signed by himself to mark the occasion.