Lionel Messi Reacts with Awkward Smile After Donald Trump Brings Up Cristiano Ronaldo During White House Event

Donald Trump felicitated MLS Cup champions Inter Miami on Thursday at the White House.

Lionel Messi Reacts with Awkward Smile After Donald Trump Brings Up Cristiano Ronaldo During White House Event

President Donald Trump hosted Lionel Messi and MLS Cup winners Inter Miami CF at White House on Thursday (Screengrab X) and Cristiano Ronald's Image via IMAGO)

In Short
  • Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF were honored at the White House for their 2024 MLS Cup victory.
  • Donald Trump mentioned his son Barron is a big fan of Messi and also referenced Cristiano Ronaldo during the event.
  • Messi played a crucial role in Miami's championship run, scoring 29 goals and assisting 16 in the season.

Donald Trump welcomed Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF to the White House on Thursday to celebrate their 2025 MLS Cup victory. Joining Messi were several team members, including Luis Suarez, Rodrigo De Paul, and head coach Javier Mascherano.

It’s a tradition like no other. Each year, champions of every major sport, be it football, hockey, baseball, soccer, golf, or tennis, receive an invitation to the Oval Office for a special felicitation ceremony.

Trump told the Argentine World Cup winner that it was “his distinct privilege to say what no American president has ever had the chance to say before: Welcome to the White House, Lionel Messi.”

The President’s words made Messi smile. Trump went on to share that his 19-year-old son, Barron, is one of his biggest admirers. It was Barron who reminded him that Messi was due a visit to his office on that day.

Dad, you know who’s going to be there today? I said, ‘No, I got a lot of things going on today.’ He [Barron Trump] said, ‘Messi!’ He’s a big fan of yours. He thinks you’re just a great person.

President Donald Trump said

Barron did get the chance to meet his idol before the ceremony commenced. That said, Trump said Messi is not the only soccer star Barron talks about a lot.

[Barron’s] a big soccer fan, but he’s a tremendous fan of yours. And a gentleman named Ronaldo. Cristiano is great. You’re great.

Trump said

After Trump completed his monologue, Mascherano and Miami co-owner Jorge Mas gifted Donald Trump a team jersey and a watch.

Taking a look back at Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s journey to winning the MLS Cup

Messi played a key role in Miami’s title-winning campaign. He led the club with 29 goals from 28 appearances, aside from assisting 16 goals. Miami qualified for the Cup phase after finishing third in the Eastern Conference behind Philadelphia and Cincinnati.

(Video) Lionel Messi Reacts With Awkward Smile After Donald Trump Brings Up Cristiano Ronaldo During White House Event
Lionel Messi with the MLS Cup (Image via IMAGO)

In the playoffs, Miami defeated Nashville, Cincinnati, and New York City FC to set up a final match against the Vancouver Whitecaps. De Paul found the back of the net in a 3-1 win over the Canada-based team. Messi scored 6 goals and provided 7 assists in the postseason.

Miami has played two games in the new season. They lost the opening fixture 3-0 against LAFC but bounced back in game two with a 4-2 victory against local rivals Orlando City. Messi scored the opening and the 90th-minute winner for Miami in Orlando.

Will soccer be renamed as football?

President Trump is known to have made sensational claims in the past. Last year, during the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup, Trump hinted that he would be ready to change soccer’s name to football if he wished to.

I think we can do that, I think I could do that.

Trump said on the DAZN TV channel

The sport is commonly called “football” in much of the world, especially across Europe, but in America and a few other countries, it’s more often referred to as “soccer.”

They call it ‘football,’ but I guess we call it ‘soccer,’ but that change could be made very easily. But it’s great to watch.

Trump joked

Trump’s statement created ripples across the globe. However, there has not been any update on that front since then. And, it may be that Trump revisits the topic anytime soon, given the fact that he is currently busy waging war in the Middle East.

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