Amid the Middle East turmoil sparked by U.S. airstrikes on Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump met with ‘the god of football,’ Lionel Messi. On the 5th, local time, foreign media including The New York Times reported, “President Trump hosted a championship celebration in the East Room of the White House, inviting players from Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer (MLS) champions of the last season.” The event was attended by Inter Miami players including Messi and club owner Jorge Mas, but co-owner David Beckham was absent.
The New York Times and others reported, “At the event, President Trump delivered a speech for several minutes about the military situation related to the Middle East turmoil with Iran, with the Inter Miami players standing behind him.” President Trump said, “We like champions, and we like winners,” celebrating Inter Miami’s victory while implying that the U.S. would emerge victorious in the ongoing war.
He continued, “The U.S. military, alongside our excellent Israeli partners, is completely annihilating the enemy far ahead of schedule. We are destroying Iran’s missile and drone capabilities more every hour. Depending on the calculation method, but we have endured 47 years of fear due to this group.”
After speaking about the war for several minutes with the Inter Miami players standing by, President Trump shifted the conversation to football. Greeting Messi, he said, “Welcome to the White House, Lionel Messi,” and revealed that his son is a huge fan of Messi. Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump, is known to be a passionate fan of Messi.
Trump then suddenly joked, “There is also a gentleman named Ronaldo. Cristiano is also great,” praising Messi’s rival Cristiano Ronaldo, which made Messi and the Inter Miami players laugh.
Messi stood next to President Trump and listened to the speech but did not take the microphone to speak himself. Recently, Messi stated, “I regret not speaking English well. I regret not learning English during my childhood.”
Trump also recalled watching Pelé’s matches when he played in the U.S. during the 1970s and asked the attendees, “Who is the greatest player between Messi and Pelé?” He also joked to Rodrigo de Paul, Messi’s teammate and Argentina national teammate, “Is there an ugly player here? I like ugly players much more.”
Later, Messi gifted President Trump a signed football. Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas presented a limited-edition watch and an Inter Miami jersey with Trump’s name and number 47, symbolizing his status as the 47th U.S. president. Foreign media reported, “After the event, President Trump invited the players from the East Room to the Oval Office, saying, ‘This is the center of the world right now.’”
