U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Lionel Messi and the Inter Miami squad to the White House on Thursday, March 5, 2026, to celebrate their historic 2025 MLS Cup triumph. The ceremony, held in the East Room, saw the Argentine icon joined by head coach Javier Mascherano and club co-owner Jorge Mas. While the President initiated the event with a briefing on recent military developments in the Middle East, the focus quickly shifted to the “Herons’” championship run and the transformative impact the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has had on North American soccer since his 2023 arrival.
During the reception, Trump drew a direct comparison between Messi’s influence and that of the legendary Pelé, who famously played for the New York Cosmos in the 1970s. Reflecting on his own history as a spectator of the “Beautiful Game,” the President sparked a lighthearted debate among the attendees regarding which of the two icons holds the mantle of the greatest of all time. The team also presented the 47th President with a commemorative pink Inter Miami jersey emblazoned with the number 47, along with a jewel-studded soccer ball to mark the club’s first league title.
“I shouldn’t say this because I’m old, but I watched Pele play,” Trump said. “I don’t know, you (Messi) may be better than Pele. Pele was pretty good.”
The event featured personal acknowledgments for several of Miami’s stars, including veteran striker Luis Suárez, Rodrigo De Paul, and Tadeo Allende. The President also highlighted Messi’s choice to remain in the United States, contrasting his presence at this ceremony with his absence from a previous White House invitation. In early 2025, Messi had been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Joe Biden but was unable to attend the conferment due to what his management described as prior scheduling commitments.
“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,” Trump said, an oblique reference to the fact Messi did not attend the ceremony when Biden awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January 2025.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the visit underscored the elevated status of Major League Soccer on the global stage. Jorge Mas emphasized that the club’s success was a testament to the “freedom to dream,” a sentiment echoed by the President as he praised the team’s ability to deliver under immense international pressure. Following the festivities, the squad departed for Baltimore to prepare for their upcoming league fixture against D.C. United, carrying with them the unique distinction of being the first MLS champions to be honored during the current administration.
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