By Breaking Editor 
March 6, 2026 – In a notable intersection of sports and politics, Argentine soccer icon Lionel Messi attended an event at the White House to celebrate Inter Miami’s recent Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup victory, hosted by former President Donald Trump. This visit marks Messi’s first appearance at the White House, having previously declined an invitation for a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony with President Joe Biden due to scheduling conflicts.
The event, held on March 5, turned into a politically charged affair as Trump diverged from the celebratory tone, addressing significant geopolitical issues, including U.S. relations with Iran. Reports suggest that Messi largely remained a silent figure throughout the event, an awkward position for the soccer superstar, who has historically avoided political entanglements.
Critics on social media were quick to highlight the discomfort of Messi’s presence next to Trump, with one post remarking, “Messi visiting a White House event honoring Inter Miami could be seen as a major photo-op for the former president.” Another comment pointedly referenced Messi’s silence during the politically-laden speech, questioning why the athlete would align himself with the former president in such a context.
Curiously, representatives for Inter Miami and Messi did not respond to The Associated Press’ requests for comment on the visit. For his part, the Inter Miami head coach, Javier Mascherano, when asked stated the following: “I thought we would talk about football but I guess I’m not lucky. We were following the protocol that is practically a tradition for a team to visit the White House when it becomes champion” (quote via AP).