Messi Honored at White House
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were honored by President Donald Trump at the White House celebrating their 2025 MLS Cup triumph. The ceremony underscores the growing prestige of Major League Soccer and Messi's ongoing impact on U.S. football culture. The event marks a high-profile recognition of MLS on the national stage.
The visit marked the first time a Major League Soccer champion was hosted at the White House during Donald Trump's two terms in office. During the ceremony, Trump praised Messi, comparing him to Pelé and noting his son Barron is a big fan. The team gifted the 47th president a pink No. 47 jersey. Messi's 2025 season was one for the record books. He became the first player in league history to win back-to-back Landon Donovan MLS MVP awards. The Argentine superstar also captured his first MLS Golden Boot, leading the league with 29 goals. His 48 total goal contributions (29 goals, 19 assists) were the second-most in a single MLS regular season. The championship run culminated in a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup final at Chase Stadium. Messi was named the MLS Cup MVP for his performance, which included assists on the game-winning goal by Rodrigo De Paul and a late clincher by Tadeo Allende. The celebration also honored the final match for Spanish legends Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The decorated duo announced their retirement at the end of the 2025 season, ending their careers by lifting the MLS Cup alongside their former Barcelona teammate. The team's success mirrored a banner 30th season for Major League Soccer. The league saw a 29% year-over-year increase in average weekly viewership, reaching 3.7 million viewers across its platforms. The MLS Cup final itself drew a record 4.6 million viewers globally.
