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WASHINGTON. – U.S. President Donald Trump received Inter Miami CF, champions of Major League Soccer, at the White House on Thursday, and during the event he praised the team's captain, Argentine star Lionel Messi, whom he compared to Brazilian legend Pelé.
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During the ceremony, Trump recalled having seen Pelé play when he was with the New York Cosmos, but hinted at his admiration for the current leader of the Miami team. "I shouldn't say this because then they'll say I'm old, but I saw Pelé play when he was in the Cosmos. He was very good, but I think you could be better," the leader said as he addressed Messi before those present. The visit took place as part of the American tradition of inviting the champions of the country's major professional leagues to the White House. However, this is the first time Trump has received the MLS champion during his term. As part of the meeting, the U.S. president received several gifts from the club, including an Inter Miami jersey with his last name and the number 47 on the back — in reference to his status as the forty-seventh president of the country —, as well as a ball and a personalized watch. Trump also highlighted the impact Messi has had since his arrival in American soccer, emphasizing the pressure he faced upon arriving as the club's main figure. "I've seen great players come to the United States with high expectations, but they don't always win. This kid arrived with all the hype and won," the president stated. "You came with a lot of pressure and still achieved it, and that's something very difficult." In representation of the club, businessman Jorge Mas, president of Inter Miami, spoke, highlighting the organization's bet on signing the Argentine striker years ago. "Many thought it was impossible to bring the best player in the world to our team. Today we have him here and it is a source of pride for our institution," he affirmed. Inter Miami won its first MLS title last December, just five years after its debut in the league in 2020, thus consolidating one of the most important moments in the franchise's short history.
