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Lionel Messi and the Inter Miami team were welcomed to the White House by United States President Donald Trump on Thursday. The ceremony was organized in Washington, DC to honor the American team after winning its first Major League Soccer (MLS) championship last season.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, considered one of the greatest footballers in the history of the sport, appeared all smiles as he met the US president. Messi took the stage alongside Trump, while the rest of the Inter Miami squad waited behind him.
In his speech, the US president first made a reference to international developments, including military operations against Iran. He then turned his attention to the MLS champions and did not spare words of appreciation for Lionel Messi.
Trump also shared a family episode, mentioning his son Barron, who according to him is a big fan of football and the Argentine star.
" My son Barron said to me, 'Dad, you know who's coming today?' I told him I had a lot of work to do. He said, 'Messi.' He's a big fan of yours and thinks you're a fantastic person. He's also a big fan of a gentleman named Ronaldo ," Trump said during the ceremony.
This visit marked the first time Lionel Messi has entered the White House. A year earlier, the Argentine had received an invitation from former President Joe Biden to be honored with the Medal of Freedom, but had declined due to commitments in the sports calendar.
The protocol ceremony in Washington also produced several symbolic moments, especially through the gifts that the Inter Miami delegation delivered to the American president in the Oval Office.
The most special moment was when Messi personally presented Trump with a limited edition pink soccer ball, the signature color of the Inter Miami club. According to international reports, the ball contains elements commemorating the team's recent successes and the transformation of soccer in the city of Miami.
Meanwhile, club co-owner Jorge Mas presented the president with a jersey with the number 47, a symbolic reference to Donald Trump's position in the historical ranking of American presidents.
Another gift that attracted attention was the watch presented by Javier Mascherano. It is a "Tudor Black Bay Chrono Pink" model, produced by the "Tudor" brand, known as the sister brand of "Rolex" and the official sponsor of Inter Miami.
The watch, which has a distinctive pink dial and a five-link steel bracelet, is part of a very limited edition. Its price on the official market reaches around 5,600 euros (approximately $6,000), while on the collectors' market it can increase significantly due to its rarity.
Inter Miami's visit to the White House was also interpreted as a symbolic moment linking sport with American politics. For Messi, it represents another chapter in his adventure in the US, where his influence now extends beyond the football field and touches on the dimension of international prestige.
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