Soccer icon Lionel Messi made his highly anticipated White House debut on Thursday, joining his Inter Miami CF teammates to celebrate their 2025 MLS Cup victory.

The visit marked a historic moment as the team met with President Donald Trump, who praised the squad for their 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps last December.

During the ceremony in the East Room, the President was full of praise for the Argentine superstar, telling him, "Leo, you came in and you won, and that's something very hard to do."

Trump, a self-proclaimed sports fan, even compared Messi to a Brazilian legend, stating, "I don't know, you may be better than Pele."

The team did not arrive empty-handed; Messi and owner Jorge Mas Santos presented the President with a signature pink Inter Miami jersey featuring the number 47, symbolizing his status as the 47th president.

They also gifted him a bejeweled pink soccer ball. In an emotional speech, Mas highlighted the team's journey, saying, "We can play with the big boys – our league can be one of the top leagues in the world."

While the event touched on global politics, the focus remained on Miami's "Freedom to Dream" spirit. The champions now head to their next match against D.C. United this Saturday.