Messi Meets Trump at the White House
Soccer legend Lionel Messi set aside his aversion to politics on Thursday, walking alongside Donald Trump at the White House to commemorate his club championship with Inter Miami, providing the US president with a rare photo opportunity. For decades, presidents have embraced champions to leverage the favorable optics of their victories. However, Messi’s visit is notable as he has traditionally steered clear of presidential engagements, leading sports media to speculate for several days about the likelihood of his attendance this time. In January 2025, Messi turned down President Joe Biden’s invitation to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom, citing scheduling conflicts. Trump took pleasure in enjoying a level of VIP treatment that his predecessor was unable to experience. “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 stated.
When Argentina won the World Cup in 2022 — Messi’s crowning moment — the team overlooked Argentine leader Alberto Fernandez, who had invited them all to celebrate from the balcony of the presidential palace. Messi skillfully avoided Fernandez’s minister as he stepped off the plane in Buenos Aires, protected by his entourage. In Buenos Aires, Argentina’s victory parade descended into chaos as millions of fans gathered, prompting Messi and others to be airlifted by helicopters. Even Argentina’s current President Javier Milei, a prominent Trump ally in Latin America, is unable to secure a selfie with the nation’s most famous figure, who boasts 512 million Instagram followers. Despite expressing admiration for Messi at an event they both attended last November in Miami, Milei departed without securing the photo that any Argentine politician would go to great lengths to obtain.
Messi finds himself in a challenging position in Argentina just months ahead of what is likely to be his last World Cup, as the albiceleste prepares to compete in the US. Milei is openly criticizing Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, the leader of the influential soccer association AFA, who has remained steadfast in his support for Messi. Milei and Tapia have been in conflict for years, as Milei seeks to privatize the ownership structures of Argentina’s club teams, a move that the AFA opposes. Messi has not provided any commentary on that situation. Tapia is currently facing an investigation in Argentina regarding corruption allegations associated with a luxurious property featuring a helipad located outside of Buenos Aires. In December of last year, he reported an annual income of approximately $584,000 derived from various positions he occupies. Tensions have escalated significantly between the two, leading Milei to opt out of attending Trump’s World Cup event in Washington last December due to Tapia’s presence.
Messi has encountered world leaders, yet these meetings typically occur at World Cup games rather than at presidential palaces. In 2014, he accompanied the national squad to meet then-President Cristina Kirchner following the team’s defeat in the final against Germany. Inter Miami secured the Major League Soccer championship last December, 2 1/2 years following Messi’s relocation to the US, where he had previously achieved numerous titles and shattered records in Europe. “There’s a lot more pressure put on you because you’re sort of expected to win,” Trump added, looking at Messi.
