Argentinian soccer legend Lionel Messi is facing severe backlash for visiting the White House on Thursday, where he and his Inter Miami teammates met US President Donald Trump to commemorate their MLS Cup victory.
The negative reactions stemmed from the fact that Messi was on stage while Trump spoke extensively about the ongoing US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Many fans and analysts believed that Trump shouldn’t have briefed the media on the latest Iran war updates while in a room full of soccer players. Some also felt Messi should have declined the White House invitation, and his presence during Trump’s speech appeared to show his support for the US President amid the devastating Iran War.
Lionel Messi Faces Backlash
Another negative point was that Trump said he didn’t even know Inter Miami, which won its first MLS title in December, was planning to visit him at the White House.
“My son [Barron] said, ‘Dad, do you know who’s going to be there today?’ I said, ‘no, I’ve got a lot of things going on,'” Trump said, via the BBC.
“He said, ‘Messi!’ He’s a big fan of yours. He thinks you’re a great person and I think you got to meet a little while ago.”
Spain’s White House correspondent, David Alandete, also pointed out how odd it was for Messi to listen intently while Trump suggested that the US would shift its focus to Cuba after the Iran War.
“Here they have Trump announcing that the Cuban dictatorship is going to fail and that Miami’s exiles will be able to return to the island soon, all of this in front of Lionel Messi, who listens attentively,” wrote Alandete (translated from Spanish).
“One of those surreal moments that only happen in Washington.”
Argentinian sportswriter Mariano Sinito referred to the White House visit as “a stain” on Messi’s other indelible legacy.
Calladito mientras Trump habla sobre bombardear países, literalmente amenazando de muerte a quien se le oponga.
No vale todo lo mismo. No es “cualquiera”.
X user Daniel Regha argued that there was nothing wrong with Messi’s White House visit, but the timing felt off.
It’s literally the
Donald Trump Thanks Lionel Messi
Messi, who handed Trump an autographed ball on Thursday, committed his future to Inter Miami in October with a new deal that runs through 2028. Trump thanked the back-to-back MLS MVP for staying in the United States when he could have easily gone back to Spain or France to play the final few years of his storied career.
“You could have gone anywhere in the world, any team in the world, and you chose Miami. I just want to thank you for bringing us all on this ride,” Trump said to Messi.
The POTUS also chimed in on the soccer G.O.A.T. discussion.
“I shouldn’t say this because I’m old, but I watched Pele play. I don’t know, you may be better than Pele. Pele was pretty good,” Trump said at the end of his speech.
Inter Miami, co-owned by English soccer icon David Beckham, received an invite to the White House before their MLS match against DC United on Saturday. As such, it’s likely the visit was scheduled for when Messia nd Co. visited the U.S. capital for a match.
Lionel Messi Under Fire For Donald Trump Meeting Amid US-Iran War