Lionel Messi has been criticized for meeting US President Donald Trump and applauding his latest report on the Iran war at a White House event honoring the Argentine superstar and his Inter Miami team.
Messi received high praise from Trump in Washington, DC on Thursday, but the Miami captain received criticism on social media for meeting and applauding the US president.
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Miami beat the Vancouver Whitecaps in December for the Major League Soccer (MLS) title, and Messi was named league MVP for the second consecutive season.
“It is my privilege to say what no American president has had the opportunity to say before: ‘Welcome to the White House, Lionel Messi,'” Trump said as the 38-year-old stood at his side.
“Leo, you came in and you won, and that’s a very difficult thing to do, very, very unusual, and, frankly, there’s a lot more pressure on you than anyone could imagine, because you kind of expected to win, but hardly anyone wins.”
Messi, who entered the ceremony alongside Trump, joined Inter Miami in mid-2023 to great fanfare. He did not speak during the event, which began with comments on military action with Trump addressing the war with Iran, expanding the political speech to highlight the situation in Venezuela and a possible future announcement on Cuba and tariffs.
Trump began by boasting about the continued US and Israeli attacks on Iran, which were launched on Saturday and have killed 1,230 people.
Tehran responded by launching waves of missiles and drones at Israel and at several military bases in the Middle East where US forces operate.
“The United States military, along with wonderful Israeli partners, continues to totally demolish the enemy, far ahead of schedule and at levels people have never seen before,” Trump said as Messi stood next to him.
The president concluded by saying, “Our people are doing a great job, once again: the greatest military that has ever existed.”
His words were applauded by Messi, the Miami team and others present in the room.
However, the former Barcelona striker quickly became the subject of criticism on social media, where he was criticized for getting involved in politics and applauding Trump while boasting about US military action in Iran.
Referring to videos of the event, Palestinian-American writer Ali Abunimah wrote: “Selfish and empty people.”
“Lionel Messi Applauds When President Trump Talks About His Plan to Defeat Iran. Messi Fans?” the Halal Nation account, founder of the Halal Tribune with an alleged 500,000 subscribers, wrote in X.
Spanish journalist Leyla Hamed called the actions of Messi and his team “strange” amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“Donald Trump casually announces more illegal bombings against Iran in front of the entire Inter Miami team,” he wrote.
Hamed noted that hundreds of children have been killed in Iran in recent days.
The deadliest incident, which occurred on Saturday in the southeastern Iranian city of Minab, killed 165 girls at a primary school.
“Trump knows exactly what he’s doing by using these athletes, and they got sucked into it,” he added.
“What’s the point of having so much influence and power if you can’t use it at times like this?
“To think that most of these players have children…”
An account by an American soccer fan on YouTube, Tactical Manager, also reacted to the presence of Messi and Miami in the White House. Messi’s former Barcelona strike partner Luis Suárez was also present.
“I never thought I would live to see Donald Trump talking about bombing another country with Messi and Suárez in the background,” the story wrote.
Several other fans and fan groups expressed their discontent.
Messi gives Trump a ball signed by Inter Miami
Trump apparently used the ceremony to unite athletic prowess and military might.
The president surveyed the team before stopping to point to Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul and asked: “Do you have any bad-looking players?”
“I don’t like handsome men,” Trump joked, “you don’t feel that good about yourself.”
Addressing Messi, who famously avoids talking about politics, the president brought the conversation back to sport.
“You could have gone anywhere in the world. You could have chosen any team in the world and you chose to go to Miami. I don’t blame you. The weather is extremely good. Do you go to Doral? Do you go to Doral and play golf?” Trump said, referring to a golf course he owns.
“I just want to thank you for bringing us all on this journey, because you are attractive, talented, and a great person.”
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, led Argentina to the World Cup title in 2022. He is expected to play for Argentina again this summer when the tournament is held in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
However, football’s global showcase has been clouded by recent events, including conflict in the Middle East and unrest in Mexico following the death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera in a military operation.
After opening the ceremony with comments about the conflict with Iran, Trump did not mention the World Cup.
Messi presented a soccer ball signed by Inter Miami to Trump, who then revealed the affection his 19-year-old son Barron has for Messi.
“My son said, ‘Dad, do you know who’s going to be there today?’ I said, ‘No, there’s a lot going on today,'” Trump said. “He said ‘Messi!’ He’s a big fan of yours. He thinks you’re just a great person. And I think you met a while ago. So he’s a big football fan, but he’s a tremendous fan of yours. And a gentleman called Ronaldo. Cristiano is great. “You are great.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi’s old rival in European soccer, attended a White House event with Trump last year.
Entering the area of football history, Trump told Messi: “Maybe you are better than Pelé,” and asked those present: “Who is better?”
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas and coach Javier Mascherano presented the president of the United States with a team jersey and a watch.
Miami is the first MLS team invited to the White House during Trump’s two terms.
