Messi and Inter Miami honoured at White House by US President Trump

Washington: US President Donald Trump hosted 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) champions Inter Miami at the White House on Friday, celebrating the club’s record-breaking season and welcoming football superstar Lionel Messi in a historic ceremony described by the President as unprecedented for an American head of state.

“Today we're thrilled to host the 2025 MLS Cup Champions, Inter Miami,” Trump said at the ceremony. “And 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.”

Historic season for Inter Miami and Messi

The White House event honoured Inter Miami’s championship run, highlighting the team’s outstanding performance in the 2025 MLS season. Trump congratulated the players, coaching staff, and club leadership, noting the global impact of the franchise since Messi’s arrival.

“This guy won, he came in, there was tremendous fanfare, and he won,” Trump said. “And, Leo, you came in, and you won, and that's something very hard to do, very uh, very unusual,” Trump said, praising Messi for meeting the expectations placed upon an international star in a US league. “There's a lot more pressure put on you than anyone would know because, you know, you're sort of expected to win, but almost nobody wins.”

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Trump also highlighted Inter Miami’s on-field milestones, including scoring records and international success.

“Returning to the MLS, Inter-Miami built on that incredible momentum, playing a record number of games and scoring a total of 101 goals, the most in MLS history,” he said. He added that the club’s victory over European opposition in the FIFA Club World Cup marked a landmark achievement for North American football.

Messi’s individual achievements

The President celebrated Messi’s personal accomplishments during the season.

“With 29 goals in the regular season alone, Leo won the prize, Golden Boot, becoming the first player to be named the league MVP twice in a row,” Trump said, adding that the Argentine forward had secured the 47th trophy of his career, making him one of the most decorated players in football history.

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Inter Miami co-owner praises club’s growth

Jorge Mas, co-owner of Inter Miami, thanked President Trump for hosting the team and reflected on the club’s rapid rise since its founding.

“Seven years ago, Inter Miami was nothing but an idea and a dream,” Mas said. “Over the course of the last two and a half years that he has been here, we've been on an epic run of records of trophies, of winning.” He also highlighted the club’s growing stature in global football.

“Inter Miami is one of the world's biggest clubs. These men standing behind you have changed the culture of football in the United States of America forever,” Mas said.

The White House ceremony concluded with Trump inviting the team and officials into the Oval Office, calling it a “very, very special place.”

MLS grows in global prominence

The ceremony underscored Major League Soccer’s rising profile in the United States over the past two decades, driven by increasing attendance, international broadcasting deals, and the arrival of global stars such as Messi. The league has increasingly positioned itself as a competitive destination for international football talent, signalling the growth of American football culture on the global stage.

IANS