Donald Trump welcomed Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami CF teammates to the White House on Thursday after the club was crowned Major League Soccer champion in 2025.
Standing alongside the Argentine World Cup winner and head coach Javier Mascherano, the U.S. president recalled the era when Pelé played for the New York Cosmos. “I probably shouldn’t say this because I’m old, but I watched Pelé,” he said, before adding about Messi: “I don’t know, you might be better than Pelé. Pelé was pretty good.”
A White House Moment With Messi and a Nod to Ronaldo
The Inter Miami players presented Donald Trump with a pink jersey bearing the number 47, a reference to the 47th president of the United States. The president then declared: “I can say something no other president has been able to say before: Welcome to the White House, Lionel,” referencing Joe Biden, who awarded Messi the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025 without the Argentine attending the ceremony.
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The American president also spoke about his son’s admiration for the two football superstars. “My son thinks you’re incredible, Messi. He’s a big soccer fan: he admires you… and he also admires Cristiano Ronaldo. Cristiano, you’re one of the greatest athletes in history… and you too, Messi.”
🚨🗣️ Lors de la réception de Messi et de l’Inter Miami, Donald Trump a profité du moment pour faire "l’éloge" de Cristiano Ronaldo 🇺🇸👀🇵🇹 :
« Mon fils pense que tu es quelqu’un de formidable, Messi.
C’est un grand fan de football : il t’admire… et il admire aussi Cristiano… pic.twitter.com/T2wqYryahy
— ActuCR7 (@ActuCR7_) March 5, 2026
Trump’s remarks highlighted the global influence of the two legendary players, widely considered among the greatest footballers of all time.
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