US President Donald Trump welcomed the 2025 MLS Cup champions, Inter Miami, to the White House, in the presence of Argentine legend Lionel Messi.
The US president’s reception of the football league champions is a long-standing tradition, as he often hosts a ceremony to honor winning teams in various sports.
This visit marks Lionel Messi’s first trip to the White House, after he declined an invitation from former President Joe Biden several years ago.
During the ceremony, Trump spoke about Messi, saying, “He’s probably even better than Pelé.”
He also added, speaking about Cristiano Ronaldo, who has close ties to the White House, “Cristiano is great, and so is Messi.”
Trump also praised Egypt’s Al-Ahly, saying, “In the last Club World Cup, Inter Miami faced some of the best clubs in the world. They drew with Al-Ahly, the best team in Egypt, which has an incredible group of talented players.”
