Trump tells Lionel Messi 'you came in and you won' during Inter Miami White House celebration

President Donald Trump has shown his emotion for sports galore times, successful and retired of office, and he’s seen endowment from each implicit the satellite vie for glory. 

But arsenic Trump hosted Inter Miami CF, the champions of the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup, connected Thursday astatine the White House, helium couldn’t assistance but praise 1 of the champion to ever play the athletics – a large who won with loads of unit connected his shoulders. 

"I person to accidental this. I’ve seen a batch of large players travel into the satellite of sports, and they’ve travel from each antithetic countries, each antithetic players," Trump said during his code successful the White House. "They’ve come, from immoderate cases, from antithetic states. They travel to the Yankees, oregon they travel to the Dodgers, oregon they travel from whatever. I’ve seen them travel from different countries, and there’s specified a glamour [like], ‘Oh, everything’s great.’ But they don’t win. This feline won. 

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US President Donald Trump shakes manus with Argentinian prima Lionel Messi during an lawsuit for Inter Miami CF, winners of the 2025 Major League Soccer Cup, successful the East Room of the White House successful Washington, D.C., connected March 5, 2026. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

As Trump turned around, helium addressed Messi directly. 

"He came in, determination was tremendous fanfare, and helium won. But it’s true, they don’t win. They travel in, they’re large players, they tin adjacent play OK, but they don’t win. Leo, you came successful and you won, and that’s thing precise hard to, precise unusual. And frankly, there’s a batch much unit enactment connected you than anyone would cognize due to the fact that you’re benignant of expected to win. But astir cipher wins. They travel in, they’re great, they’re the champion successful the world, they get paid a fortune. You came successful and you won with each that pressure. That’s an astonishing tribute, truthful congratulations."

Trump added that his son, Barron, was ecstatic for Messi’s accomplishment with his Inter Miami CF teammates astatine the White House. 

"My lad said, ‘Dad, bash you cognize who’s going to beryllium determination today?’ I said, ‘No, I got a batch of things going on.’ He said, ‘Messi!’" Trump said arsenic those successful attendance laughed.

"He’s a large shot instrumentality and a tremendous instrumentality of yours."

Trump besides invoked Brazilian large Pelé, saying helium got to ticker him play for the New York Cosmos, having been a bully person of their owner, Steve Ross, who is known for popularizing shot successful the U.S. Trump asked the assemblage who was better, Pelé oregon Messi, and the second simply smiled arsenic the country agreed it was the Argentinian fable who takes that prize. 

US President Donald Trump points to Argentinian prima Lionel Messi (L) during an lawsuit for Inter Miami CF, winners of the 2025 Major League Soccer Cup, successful the East Room of the White House successful Washington, D.C, connected March 5, 2026. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump listed retired Inter Miami’s accomplishments, which Messi played a ample relation in. He had 29 goals and 16 assists successful 28 matches played past play for Inter Miami, making him the MLS Golden Boot Award victor for astir goals. He besides won back-to-back Landon Donovan MVP Awards. 

Inter Miami proprietor Jorge Mas spoke for the team, with his member and chap co-owner Jose Mas looking connected from the crowd. David Beckham, the British shot fable who besides has a involvement successful the MLS squad, didn’t be the White House arsenic helium was supporting his wife, Victoria Beckham, with her manner show. 

The squad talented a pinkish Inter Miami jersey with Trump stitched connected the backmost on with the fig 47 to commemorate his spot among the Presidents of the United States. 

Messi and galore others down him volition besides beryllium participating successful the World Cup aboriginal this summer, which volition beryllium held successful the U.S., Mexico and Canada. 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an lawsuit celebrating 2025 MLS Cup Champions Inter Miami CF successful the East Room of the White House connected March 5, 2026, successful Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Messi and Argentina are the reigning champions, having defeated France successful a punishment shootout successful a melodramatic last successful Qatar. The 38-year-old yet got to hoist the World Cup trophy, having chased it passim his premier with FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. 

Messi has tallied 2 Copa América titles, 4 UEFA Champions League titles and has won 8 Ballon d’Or awards for the champion shot subordinate successful the world. He tin present adhd MLS champion to his illustrious resume, and Trump commended him and the remainder of Inter Miami successful expansive manner connected Thursday day successful Washington D.C.

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