Washington, United States – US President Donald Trump welcomed Argentine star Lionel Messi, captain of Inter Miami, along with club owner Jorge Mas, coach Javier Mascherano, and all the team’s players, to the White House to celebrate the club’s crowning as Major League Soccer champions for the 2025 season.
Inter Miami won the MLS title for the first time in its history last December, continuing the club’s history in the competition.
Trump is the latest US president to host the NFL champion at the White House, after the event was promoted over the past few weeks, at a time when the region is experiencing political tensions against the backdrop of the war between the United States and Iran.
During the press conference, Messi and his teammates stood behind Trump, who spoke to the media about the team’s achievement and also touched on some political issues.
Trump praises Messi and Inter Miami’s achievement
Trump told the Inter Miami players: “Champions.. We love champions and we love winners, and we have a lot of them here today, too many to present individually”.
He added: “Many of them are political heroes, but we don’t care about politics today, do we, Duffy? What’s more important is that we have wonderful people who love our country.”
The US president continued: “And now let’s get to the beautiful reason we are here.. We are celebrating the champions, Inter Miami, the 2025 MLS champions”.
He also welcomed the Argentine star, saying: “I am honored to say a sentence that no American president has ever said: Welcome to the White House, Lionel Messi”.
Trump pointed to a funny incident with his son, saying: “My son said to me: Dad, do you know who will be here today? I said no, I have a lot of things to do. He said to me: Messi! He is one of your biggest fans, and he also admires Cristiano Ronaldo”.
Trump also praised the club’s management and coaching staff, saying: “We have great stars here. Congratulations also to the owners, Jorge and Mas, and to coach Mascherano, who they say is an amazing coach. For me, whoever wins is a good coach, and all the players are great”.
Praise for Inter Miami’s historic season
He also spoke about the team’s historic season, referring to their participation in the Club World Cup hosted by the United States, and said: “I once watched the legend Pele play for the New York Cosmos, and perhaps you are better than him, Messi”.
Trump praises Al-Ahly of Egypt
Trump touched on the team’s matches in the World Cup, saying that Inter Miami faced strong clubs from around the world, including a draw with Al-Ahly, which he described as one of the best clubs in Egypt and possessing exceptional talent, praising goalkeeper Oscar Ustari’s performance in that match.
He also mentioned facing a strong Brazilian team, where the team managed to achieve a draw thanks to a wonderful goal scored by Luis Suarez, describing him as one of the greatest strikers in the history of the game.
Trump added jokingly while talking about the team’s players: “These are very handsome people.. I don’t like handsome men, because you don’t feel good when you stand among them.”
He also spoke about Suarez’s remarkable goal in one of the matches, when he received the ball near the middle of the field and launched a solo attack, dribbling past the defense, before firing a powerful shot that ended the match and gave the team a qualification ticket.
Trump also recalled the moment Inter Miami faced Porto, noting that the Portuguese team took an early lead, before Inter Miami came back and equalized, and then Messi scored a brilliant goal from a direct free kick.
Trump said: “Leo stood in front of his famous free kick, and shot the ball over the defensive wall and into the net with an amazing shot with his left foot, to achieve a historic victory for the team”.
He pointed out that this victory made Inter Miami the first North American club to defeat a European team in an official tournament.
Trump added: “I’ve seen a lot of big players come into American sports with a lot of hype, but they don’t win.. This guy did win”.
He also spoke about the season opening at the Los Angeles Coliseum in front of a record crowd, stressing that the goal is to continue developing the American league and breaking down barriers to become part of the world’s elite football.
Special gifts for Trump
At the end of the visit, Inter Miami presented special gifts to the US President, including the team’s jersey with the number 47, as well as a ball signed by the players and a watch bearing the club’s logo.
Trump also invited the team’s players to visit the Oval Office, describing it as “the center of the world”.
