Lionel Messi Attends, But David Beckham Misses Inter Miami’s Bizarre Trip To Donald Trump’s White House
The reigning Major League Soccer (MLS) champions, Inter Miami CF, visited White House on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s game at D.C. United as part of their MLS Cup victory celebration. Inter Miami lifted their first MLS Cup on December 6th, 2025, after defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3–1. The MLS club co-owned by the former English captain and Manchester United legend David Beckham was invited to Washington DC to celebrate their maiden title with United States President Donald Trump. Football Legend and World Cup winner Lionel Messi and the rest of the team were present in the celebration, whereas Beckham did not make the trip.
On March 5, 2026, Kit Maher, a reporter and writer at CNN, said in her X post that a White House official had confirmed that Lionel Messi would attend the Inter Miami CF event in the East Room at 4:00 p.m. She added that David Beckham would not be attending the event because he was in Europe for his wife Victoria Beckham’s fashion show.
Inter Miami captain Messi entered the East Room alongside Trump and Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas and presented a gift to President Donald Trump. Messi gifted Trump a signed pink Inter Miami soccer ball, while head coach Javier Mascherano and co-owner Jorge Mas presented him with a watch and an Inter Miami jersey. Alongside Lionel Messi, Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, and Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul also drew significant attention.
The former United States president Joe Biden also invited Lionel Messi to White House to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in early January 2025, but he was unable to attend the function due to prior commitments.
“You May Be Better Than Pele,” Said Donald Trump About Messi
During the introduction to the White House, Donald Trump said that they were thrilled to host the 2025 MLS Cup champions, Inter Miami CF.
He added that it was his distinct privilege to say something no American president had ever had the chance to say before, welcoming Lionel Messi to the White House. Donald Trump added that Lionel Messi had come in and won, noting that it was something very hard to do. He further said that it was very unusual and that a great deal of pressure had been placed on Messi because he was expected to win, even though almost nobody actually does.
In the ceremony, Donald Trump said that he had seen Brazilian great Pelé play for the New York Cosmos. He then looked at Lionel Messi and remarked that Messi might be better than Pelé, before asking the crowd who they thought was better.
Following the reception, Trump invited the team to the Oval Office. Following Inter Miami’s White House visit, the tradition of commemorating a championship with a White House reception continues. D.C. United was the first team in the Major League Soccer to visit the White House in 1998 following their triumph in the tournament. LA Galaxy, the American club once home to Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham, visited the White House multiple times after winning the MLS Cup in 2011, 2012, and 2014.
The club’s co-owner, Jorge Mas, spoke on behalf of the team and explained how the current Inter Miami squad changed the culture of soccer in the United States of America. Mas said that his team had changed the culture of football in the United States forever. He said they had shown that they could compete with the big teams and heavyweights, adding that their league had the potential to become one of the top leagues in the world.
He further stated that their ability to dream, persevere, and move forward without seeing obstacles would help them continue achieving success. He also expressed hope that their visit to the White House to celebrate an MLS Cup victory would not be their last.
Mas also said that the championship had been well deserved and strongly contested, adding that one of the best teams in the world was standing behind them. He concluded by saying that everything had become possible because they had dared to dream.
The 2026 MLS season has officially commenced on February 21-22, 2026. After completing two matches, Inter Miami currently stands seventh, with DC United and FC Cincinnati sitting at 6th and 5th, respectively. In two matches, Inter Miami secured one win and one loss, earning 3 out of a possible 6 points.
