In a ceremony emblematic of American sporting tradition, President Donald Trump received the players and coaching staff of Inter Miami CF at the White House on Thursday, the 5th of March. The event was convened to honour the club’s triumphant 2025 season, in which they secured the MLS Cup championship.
The gathering was distinguished by the presence of Lionel Messi, the celebrated Argentine forward. A two-time recipient of the MLS Most Valuable Player award, an eight-time Ballon d’Or laureate, and a World Cup winner with his national side, Messi stood alongside his teammates for the occasion. The visit forms part of a long-established custom in the United States, whereby the President extends congratulations to the nation’s preeminent professional and collegiate sports teams.
The Florida-based side made the journey to the nation’s capital on Thursday morning, a visit strategically scheduled two days prior to their forthcoming fixture against D.C. United in Baltimore on Saturday, the 7th of March.
During the proceedings, Jorge Mas, a co-owner of the club, offered a comprehensive reflection on Inter Miami’s trajectory since its inception as an expansion franchise in 2019. He expounded upon the club’s transformation into a formidable global entity within Major League Soccer, a metamorphosis significantly accelerated by the acquisition of Lionel Messi in July 2023.
“Our ambition is to persist in transcending conventional boundaries and to impose no constraints upon our potential,” Mr Mas articulated. “We are resolute in our mission to ensure that both Major League Soccer and Inter Miami CF are held in the highest esteem among the elite echelons of global football.”
As a token of appreciation, Mr Mas presented President Donald Trump with a series of gifts, including a distinctive pink Inter Miami jersey, a football of the same hue, and a limited-edition timepiece commemorating the club, the reverse of which was inscribed with the President’s name.
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