As Inter Miami prepares for a White House visit, Lionel Messi’s decision could resonate deeply with Latino immigrants and shape how sports leaders navigate politics in a divided America.
Lionel Messi is regarded as the greatest — or at least one of the greatest — footballers in history. Others think of Diego Armando Maradona, another Argentine football legend. But beyond their skills and sporting achievements, what sets them apart is their political stance.
Messi’s political views are not known. It’s unclear whether he votes left or right, or whether he supports certain political parties or figures. About Maradona, (almost) everything is known. He supported the left until the end, condemned U.S. “imperialism,” and the United States responded by revoking his entry visa. The man also known as “Pelusa” didn’t care; he said he preferred going to Cuba to chat with Fidel Castro or to Venezuela to greet his friend Hugo Chávez.
This Thursday, Messi will have to make an important decision. Will he appear alongside his Inter Miami teammates at the White House? Will he shake hands with Donald Trump, after so many attacks on Latino immigrants?
So far, his agent has not confirmed his presence and has left it uncertain.
Inter Miami will visit the White House on Thursday, March 5, to mark the team’s MLS Cup win, according to a White House official.
The trip has been scheduled ahead of the team’s game against D.C. United on Saturday, March 7. Inter Miami did not respond to a request for comment.
If he attends, it would mark the first time Messi has visited the White House. The record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was invited to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Joe Biden in January 2025, but he was unable to attend.
Cristiano Ronaldo attended a black-tie dinner at the White House in November, on the same day U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office. Messi’s visit would mean that President Trump has met the two soccer players considered the greatest of their generation ahead of this summer’s World Cup, which the United States is co-hosting alongside Canada and Mexico.
Championship-winning MLS teams have regularly been invited to attend the White House, as is customary across many U.S. professional and college sports, with the Columbus Crew being the last MLS team to do so in 2024.
Miami owner David Beckham attended the White House with the LA Galaxy in 2012 after winning the 2011 MLS Cup.
News of Miami’s visit to the White House comes amid ongoing fallout from the gold medal–winning U.S. hockey team’s own visit to Washington earlier this week, which has raised questions about the politicization of the team’s Winter Olympics victory and their association with Trump. It also comes ahead of a panel on the future of college sports scheduled for the following day, which the President himself is expected to chair.
