Lionel Messi could finally make first White House visit to meet Trump after snubbing Biden last year
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on March 5 to celebrate the team’s recent MLS Cup victory, The Athletic is reporting.
As confirmed by a White House official, the MLS club will visit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue days ahead of their March 7 meeting with D.C. United.
The meeting would not only be a first between Messi and Trump, but would also mark the first time the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has ever visited the White House. He was invited to receive the medal of freedom by former President Joe Biden in January of 2025, but was forced to decline due to a scheduling conflict.
Messi’s long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo visited Trump’s White House in November as the President hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
Trump’s planned meeting with Messi & Co. comes ahead of this summer’s North American World Cup.
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on March 5 to celebrate the team’s recent MLS Cup victory
Trump’s planned meeting with Messi & Co. comes ahead of this summer’s World Cup
On Thursday, Messi escaped injury after being dragged down by a security guard, who was trying to protect him from fans. The incident took place during Inter Miami’s early-season friendly in Puerto Rico against Independiente del Valle.
In the 88th minute, a pitch invader with his top off sprinted out from behind the Miami goal before charging towards Messi.
The 38-year-old is no stranger to wild levels of adoration from supporters launching themselves towards him and this particular fan grabbed Messi from behind. The embrace lasted a couple of seconds before the security guard, lagging dangerously behind, eventually caught up.
In a panic, he tried to haul the fan off Messi but inadvertently pulled the soccer legend to the turf.
All three men ended up in a tangled heap before Messi was able to rise back to his feet, looking irritated but unhurt.
Prior to the incident, two other young fans had invaded the pitch and were taking a picture with their hero when the shirtless individual joined the fray, catching Messi by surprise.
A fan who got onto the field grabs Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi at the end of an international friendly soccer match against Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle in Bayamon, Puerto Rico
It was a strange moment on an equally odd evening.
Inter Miami’s season has already begun as the friendly was originally scheduled for February 13. But, with Messi battling a tight hamstring, the exhibition was postponed.
This re-arranged game came just five days after Inter Miami began their MLS season by losing 3-0 against Son Heung-min’s LAFC.
Thursday’s friendly will now be followed up by a game against local rivals Orlando City on Sunday, just 72 hours later.
