President Donald Trump celebrated Argentina’s Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates’ 2025 MLS Cup victory on Thursday at the White House.
Messi led the way as Trump began the meeting by making remarks about military action in the Middle East, accompanied by Miami players, coach Javier Mascherano, and team co-owner Jorge Mas.
However, he quickly focused on the team’s 2025 accomplishments and recollections of Brazilian legend Pelé’s 1970s tenure with the New York Cosmos and its electric impact on American soccer.
“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 players brought gifts for Trump, including a No. 47 shirt from the team’s characteristic pink kit, which represents his role as the country’s 47th president.
Trump praised Miami’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, rising star Tadeo Allende, and Rodrigo De Paul, while also making a veiled swipe at former President Joe Biden.
“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 2024.
“I’ve seen a lot of great players come into the world of sports,” Trump said. “They come to the Yankees or they come to the Dodgers… and there’s such a clamor.
“Everything’s great, but they don’t win. This guy won,” he said with a gesture toward Messi.
“Leo, you came in and you won. There’s a lot more pressure put on you than anyone would know because you’re sort of expected to win,” Trump added.
Trump’s list of Miami’s 2025 accomplishments includes not only their 3-1 triumph over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup final but also their 2-1 win against Portuguese side Porto in the Club World Cup, which marked the first time a North American team defeated a European team in official competition.
Mas, the son of Cuban immigrants, accepted Trump’s compliments and stated that Miami’s progress since its 2020 first season was founded on the belief that “if you work hard, sacrifice, and dream, it can be possible.”
Inter Miami’s global success is “not only because of Lionel Messi, but these men standing behind you have changed the culture of football in the United States of America forever,” Mas said. “We can play with the big boys.”
