Inter Miami and captain Lionel Messi were celebrated at the White House on Thursday following the club’s first-ever Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup triumph. Messi presented a signature Miami pink soccer ball to President Donald Trump during the East Room ceremony. Co-owner Jorge Mas also gifted Trump a Miami jersey and watch, while head coach Javier Mascherano joined in honoring the occasion.
This marked Messi’s first visit to the White House since joining Inter Miami in July 2023. His appearance follows a previous White House event attended by fellow football legend Cristiano Ronaldo last November. Trump welcomed Messi warmly, calling him “truly talented” and noting that no American president had previously had the opportunity to host the Argentinian superstar.
Trump recounted a personal anecdote about his son, who expressed admiration for Messi, emphasizing the player’s influence both on and off the pitch. “Leo, you came in and you won, and that’s something very hard to do, very, very unusual,” Trump said, highlighting the pressure Messi faced and the remarkable achievement of winning consecutively.
Inter Miami secured the 2025 MLS Cup on December 6, defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in Fort Lauderdale. Messi was named the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the second straight season. Other team members present included Luis Suárez, Tadeo Allende, and Rodrigo De Paul. MLS Commissioner Don Garber attended alongside Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House World Cup task force, and former baseball star Alex Rodriguez.
After the reception, Trump invited the team to the Oval Office, continuing the longstanding tradition of American presidents honoring championship-winning sports teams. Previous MLS teams honored at the White House include D.C. United in 1998 and LA Galaxy in 2011, 2012, and 2014.
Messi was initially invited to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the Biden administration in January 2025 but was unable to attend due to prior commitments. During Thursday’s event, Trump reminisced about seeing Brazilian legend Pele play with the New York Cosmos and told Messi, “You may be better than Pele,” prompting applause and engagement from the crowd.
Jorge Mas reflected on the growth of Inter Miami, stating, “We can play with the big boys, we can play with the heavyweights. Our league can be one of the top leagues in the world.” Mas emphasized the club’s philosophy of dreaming, persevering, and breaking barriers, crediting the MLS Cup victory to ambition and hard work.
Since its establishment in 2020, Inter Miami co-owned by David Beckham has risen rapidly in American football, culminating in the 2025 MLS Cup win, which Mas described as “very, very well deserved” and a testament to the team’s quality and dedication.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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