Lionel Messi and weren’t the one world-class athletes on the White Home on Thursday.
Former Yankee and present Timberwolves co-owner Alex Rodriguez joined Inter Miami’s celebration within the East Room of the White Home, showing with U.S. Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi.
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MLS commissioner Don Garber was additionally in attendance.
A-Rod has no formal ties to the MLS membership, however he has lengthy been related to town of Miami, and it appeared that President Donald Trump invited him up for the ceremony going down.
U.S. President Donald Trump receives items from Inter Miami CF CEO and Managing Proprietor Jorge Mas (R) as Lionel Messi (L) of Inter Miami appears on throughout an occasion celebrating the 2025 MLS Cup Champions. Getty Photographs
The president posed for a photograph with A-Rod within the Oval Workplace earlier than the ceremony and shouted him out whereas he spoke in the course of the ceremony within the East Room, saying that he was a “large fan” of the baseball star.
Trump additionally shared a narrative about watching Rodriguez play for the Yankees whereas sitting with late proprietor George Steinbrenner.
Thursday’s ceremony honored the MLS Cup-winning membership co-owned by soccer legend David Beckham, a crew that options arguably one of many best gamers within the sport’s historical past, Messi.
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Trump and the soccer icon walked into the East Room collectively and later shook palms in entrance of the group on the occasion.
Former MLB participant Alex Rodriquez speaks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent throughout an occasion celebrating the 2025 MLS Cup Champions Inter Miami CF within the East Room of the White Home. Getty Photographs
Messi helped current Trump with a No. 47 Inter Miami jersey along with his title on the again, a bejeweled pink crew soccer ball and a restricted version Tudor watch.
Trump heaped reward on Messi and known as the Argentine higher than Pelé, whom the president recalled watching when he performed for the New York Cosmos within the Nineteen Seventies.
“Who’s higher, him or Pelé?” Trump requested the Inter Miami gamers as they stood behind him, then pointed at Messi. “I believe he’s, however he’s fairly good. Pelé is fairly good.”
U.S. President Donald Trump is presented a jewelled soccer ball along with his signature on it from Inter Miami CF captain Lionel Messi. REUTERS
There was additionally an ungainly second in the course of the occasion when the president introduced up fellow soccer famous person Cristiano Ronaldo, who visited the White Home in November, whereas invoking his youngest son.
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“[Barron] is a giant fan of yours,” Trump mentioned whereas addressing Messi. “He thinks you’re only a nice particular person. He’s an amazing fan of yours, in addition to a gentleman named Ronaldo… Cristiano is nice. Some large champions, some nice, nice athletes in that sport.”