Soccer legend Lionel Messi received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Saturday, but he did not appear in person at the White House to receive the medal from President Biden. Messi was one of 19 winners of the award, along with NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
According to USA Today, Messi’s management team and his professional team, Inter Miami, informed the White House in advance that he would not be able to attend the ceremony due to scheduling conflicts.
Messi arrived in the United States in 2023 to join Inter Miami of Major League Soccer, in one of the biggest superstar signings in the league’s 31-year history. Messi had only played in European leagues and in Argentina for most of his career up to that point.
“Leo Messi is the most decorated player in the history of professional football. He supports health and education programs for children around the world through his Messi Foundation and serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador,” announced a House spokesperson. White as Biden held the medal.
Major League Soccer issued a brief statement on social media congratulating Messi on the award. Neither Inter Miami nor Messi himself have acknowledged the award with a social media post at the time of publication. According to USA Today, the star said he “feels deeply honored and deeply privileged to receive the recognition.”
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Lionel Messi, number 10 of Inter Miami CF, celebrates after scoring a goal during the second half against Orlando City SC at Chase Stadium on March 2, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The medal is the nation’s highest civilian honor, awarded to individuals who have made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant social, public, or private endeavors,” according to the White House.
Biden’s re-election campaign cited Messi’s arrival in Major League Soccer as a catalyst for soccer’s growing importance among American audiences, during the 2024 Copa América in Atlanta in June.
After Messi led Argentina to the World Cup title in December 2022, Biden jokingly wrote, “You know, I think that Messi guy might have a future,” in a congratulatory X post.
However, since Messi was absent, Saturday’s ceremony also generated controversy. news that Biden The decision to award the medal to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and left-wing billionaire George Soros sparked massive outrage on social media and backlash, especially from prominent conservative figures.
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Social media erupted with anger Saturday morning with the news that President Biden will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and left-wing billionaire George Soros. (Shannon Finney/Getty Images, left, Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images, right, Getty, inset.)
Critics pointed to Clinton’s handling of the war in Libya and the attack on US government facilities in Benghazi, Libya, as well as her controversial private email server for government affairs, which led to the former FBI Director James Comey. to say publicly that Clinton had mishandled classified information.
The award to Soros, a Democratic mega-donor, was criticized because of the billionaire’s past campaign funding of progressive district attorneys who have been light on crime, which they say has led to crime waves in blue cities.
“Seriously, two of the worst people in the world,” wrote online commentator Blake Habyan on X about Clinton and Soros.
Messi has not expressed any notable political beliefs during his career. However, he has actively distanced himself from a politician who once used his image in the past.
In 2011, Argentine politician Alfredo Olmedo de Salta posted a photo of Messi with the caption that translated as “Say yes to sport, say no to drugs.” Messi’s lawyer, Ricardo Giusepponi, stated that the politician never had consent to use the photo.
Lionel Messi, #10 of Inter Miami CF, greets fans after a tie during a match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on August 30, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
In February 2024, Messi did not play in an exhibition match in Hong Kong and was left on the bench during a match between Inter Miami and a local team. Following his refusal to play, one of Argentina’s friendly matches that was to be played in China in March was cancelled.
China’s state-run newspaper, Global Times, published an editorial highlighting an evidence-free “theory” suggesting Messi’s actions were “politically motivated” and that “external forces” wished to embarrass Hong Kong. But Messi insisted his decision not to play the match was not politically motivated at the time.
“I have heard people say that I did not want to play (in Hong Kong) for political reasons and many other reasons that are totally false,” Messi said in Spanish in a video with Chinese and English subtitles. “If that had been the case, I wouldn’t have even traveled to Japan or visited China as many times as I have.”
Widely considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, Messi, 37, has set numerous individual records with eight Ballon d’Or awards and been named the best player in the world eight times by FIFA. He is the most decorated player in the history of professional football, having won 45 team trophies, including four UEFA Champions Leagues, two Copa Americas and one FIFA World Cup.
