Lionel Messi defended after controversial Donald Trump meeting

Martin Macdonald

• 7 Mar 2026 06:01 CST
• 2 min read

News

Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano says Lionel Messi and his team-mates were simply following "protocol" when they met controversial United States president Donald Trump this week.

Messi was on sensational form for Miami last season and took the club to their first ever MLS Cup. To commemorate that occasion, the Argentine and his team-mates at Inter Miami were invited to The White House this week to meet Trump.

The meeting came as the United States and Israel commenced a bombing campaign against Iran last week. Indeed, Trump even spoke about the current conflict with Iran in a press conference with the Miami players standing behind him.

The optics led to much criticism, particularly from Messi fans on social media.

Mascherano has defender his players, however, saying on Friday over Zoom:

"I thought we were going to talk football. We complied with a protocol that is a tradition to come to the White House for being the championship team. It was planned a long time ago for the week we would play here in Washington. We were there a few hours, got to see a little bit of the White House, not much, what we could. The contact with President Trump was what was seen on TV, not much more than that."

Up until that meeting with Trump, Messi has mostly steered clear of politics. He was invited to the White House previously by President Joe Biden to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025, but was unable to attend due to prior commitments.

Though a meeting with Trump is not an endorsement of the president or his policies, it was certainly newsworthy that the man considered to be the greatest footballer of all time was pictured with such a controversial figure.

Trump meets Messi

The United States’ leader was given a number of gifts and an award as part of the ceremony, while Trump jovially engaged with the smiling Messi, who rarely conversed due to his limited knowledge of English.

“It’s my privilege to say what no other president has ever said before: Welcome Lionel Messi to the White House,” Trump said. “My son said Dad, ‘you know who’s going to be there today?’ I said ‘no, I got a lot of things going on today.

“He said ‘Messi!’ He’s a big fan of yours. He thinks you’re just a great person. He’s a big soccer fan, a tremendous fan of yours and a gentleman named Ronaldo. Cristiano is great. You're great.”

After telling stories of his memories watching former Brazil star Pele, Trump asked the crowd: “I don’t know, [Messi] may be better. Who’s better? I think he is!” while pointing to Messi.

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