Inter Miami visit White House as Lionel Messi presents gift to Donald Trump

Inter Miami celebrated their first MLS Cup title during a reception at the White House
Lionel Messi presented Donald Trump with a pink Inter Miami soccer ball during the ceremony
The club won the 2025 MLS Cup after defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-1 in December

Inter Miami CF visited the White House on Thursday to celebrate the club’s first MLS Cup title, with captain Lionel Messi presenting a gift to Donald Trump during a ceremony in the East Room.

Messi entered the event alongside Trump and Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas before handing the president a signature pink Miami soccer ball. Trump also received a team jersey and watch from Mas and head coach Javier Mascherano.

It marked Messi’s first visit to the White House since joining Inter Miami in July 2023 and came months after longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo attended a White House dinner last November.

“We’re honoring truly talented people,” Trump said while standing beside Messi and Mas. “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 also joked that his son had alerted him ahead of the event.

“He said, ‘Dad, do you know who’s going to be there today?’ I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Messi.’ He’s a big fan of yours.”

Inter Miami secured the 2025 MLS Cup on Dec. 6 by defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-1 in Fort Lauderdale. Messi was later named the league’s Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season.

“Leo, you came in and you won, and that’s something very hard to do,” Trump said. “There’s a lot more pressure on you than anyone would know.”

Several Inter Miami players attended the ceremony, including Luis Suárez, Tadeo Allende and Rodrigo De Paul. Don Garber, commissioner of Major League Soccer, was also present alongside former baseball star Alex Rodriguez and members of the president’s cabinet.

Following the reception, Trump invited the team to visit the Oval Office.

White House visits have long been a tradition for championship teams in American sports. D.C. United became the first MLS club to attend a White House reception in 1998 after winning the league title, while LA Galaxy visited following championship seasons in 2011, 2012 and 2014.

Messi had previously been invited by the administration of Joe Biden to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January 2025 but was unable to attend due to prior commitments.

During the ceremony, Trump also reflected on watching Brazilian legend Pelé play for the New York Cosmos before jokingly telling the crowd that Messi might even be better.

Mas said Inter Miami’s success has helped reshape soccer’s profile in the United States.

“We can play with the big boys, we can play with the heavyweights,” Mas said. “Our league can be one of the top leagues in the world.”

Inter Miami, which began play in 2020 and counts David Beckham among its co-owners, completed a rapid rise by securing its first MLS Cup title in 2025.

“This championship was very well deserved,” Mas said. “And it all became possible because we dared to dream.”

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.