On a crisp March afternoon in Washington, D.C., the White House buzzed with the energy of world-class football as Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates were honored by President Donald Trump for their historic 2025 MLS Cup triumph. The ceremony, held in the East Room on March 5, 2026, marked the first time the legendary Argentine forward visited the White House—a moment that carried weight not only for the club, but for Major League Soccer and the sport’s growing stature in the United States.
Trump, standing with Messi and Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas, wasted no time in acknowledging the significance of the occasion. “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,’” Trump declared, drawing applause from the assembled guests, which included MLS commissioner Don Garber, retired baseball star Alex Rodriguez, and members of the president’s cabinet.
The event was as much a celebration of Inter Miami’s meteoric rise as it was a tribute to Messi’s enduring brilliance. The club, co-owned by Mas and former England captain David Beckham, lifted the MLS Cup for the first time in December 2025, defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in Fort Lauderdale. The victory capped a whirlwind journey for a team that only began play in 2020—and for Messi, who joined Miami in mid-2023 to global fanfare and immediately delivered on sky-high expectations.
Trump highlighted the pressure Messi faced in joining a new league and a fledgling franchise, noting, “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.” The president’s praise was echoed by his 19-year-old son Barron, a self-professed Messi superfan. “He’s a big fan of yours. He thinks you’re just a great person,” Trump recounted, adding a personal touch that resonated with the crowd.
Messi, ever the humble superstar, did not speak during the ceremony, but his presence was felt throughout. The 38-year-old forward, who recently committed to Miami through 2028, presented Trump with a signed pink Inter Miami soccer ball—a bejeweled token of appreciation. Mas and head coach Javier Mascherano followed suit, gifting the president a Miami jersey and a limited-edition watch engraved with Trump’s name. The gesture symbolized the close ties forming between the club and the American sporting establishment.
The White House event was steeped in tradition, yet it also reflected the changing face of U.S. soccer. Trump reminisced about watching Brazilian legend Pelé play for the New York Cosmos and couldn’t resist stirring the age-old debate. “You may be better than Pelé,” he said to Messi, before turning to the audience: “Who’s better?” The question hung in the air, a nod to Messi’s record-breaking career, which now boasts 47 trophies—the most of any player in football history.
The ceremony was attended by several Inter Miami stars, including Luis Suárez, Tadeo Allende, and Rodrigo De Paul. Trump singled out De Paul, the Argentine midfielder whose go-ahead goal in the MLS Cup final helped seal the victory over Vancouver. “Where the hell is Rodrigo?” Trump joked, causing laughter among the players. “Do you have any bad-looking players? I like the bad-looking players much better.” The lighthearted banter underscored the camaraderie within the squad and the celebratory mood of the day.
Notably absent was co-owner David Beckham, who remained in Europe for his wife Victoria’s fashion show, but his influence on the club’s rapid ascent was widely acknowledged. Since its inception, Inter Miami has dared to dream big, and Mas made it clear that the ambitions don’t stop here. “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 said, his voice brimming with pride. “And it is this ability to dream, to persevere, to have no obstacles ahead of us, that we will continue to be successful. And hopefully, Mr. President, this is not our only visit here celebrating an MLS Cup championship.”
The championship run that brought Miami to the White House was historic on multiple fronts. Messi was named MLS Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season, becoming the first player in league history to win back-to-back MVP awards. This latest honor joins a glittering résumé that includes a FIFA World Cup title, an Olympic gold medal with Argentina, four Champions League trophies with FC Barcelona, two Ligue 1 championships with Paris Saint-Germain, and a record eight Ballon d'Or awards. “Leo claimed the 47th trophy of his incredible career—the most of all time,” Trump noted, underscoring Messi’s place among football’s immortals.
The White House reception followed a long-standing American tradition of honoring sports champions, a lineage that includes MLS teams like D.C. United and the LA Galaxy. For Messi, the ceremony was also a chance to savor a moment he missed in January 2025, when a scheduling conflict prevented him from accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the Biden administration.
Amidst the festivities, Trump touched briefly on world affairs, referencing the ongoing conflict with Iran and the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026. While Messi’s focus remains on club and country, his impact on American soccer is undeniable. As the World Cup approaches, expectations for both Inter Miami and the U.S. soccer landscape have never been higher.
Following the ceremony, Trump invited the team to the Oval Office, further cementing the bond between the White House and its newest soccer champions. Inter Miami, meanwhile, remains in the Washington area ahead of their next MLS fixture against D.C. United at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium. The squad’s journey from expansion side to champions—and now to White House honorees—serves as a testament to the power of ambition, leadership, and the global appeal of the beautiful game.
As the festivities wound down, one thing was clear: Inter Miami’s MLS Cup victory and Messi’s enduring excellence have brought a new level of excitement and legitimacy to American soccer. The club’s White House visit, filled with humor, history, and hope for the future, will be remembered as a milestone in the sport’s American journey.