US President Donald Trump receives a soccer ball trophy from Argntinian star Lionel Messi during an event to honour the 2025 Major League Soccer champions Inter Miami in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Thursday- AFP Lionel Messi drew high praise from President Donald Trump as the Argentine superstar and his Inter Miami team were honoured at the White House on Thursday for winning the MLS Cup last year, according to Reuters.
The president said, "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 went on to reveal the affection his 19-year-old son Barron has for Messi.
"My son said, 'Dad, you know who's going to be there today?' I said, 'No, I got a lot of things going on today,'" Trump said. "He said 'Messi!' He's a big fan of yours. He thinks you're just a great person. And I think you got to meet a little while ago. So he's a big soccer fan, but he's a tremendous fan of yours.
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