Photo: Getty Images
US President Donald Trump hosted MLS champion Inter Miami at the White House, comparing team captain Lionel Messi to Brazilian legend Pele at the ceremony. According to Trump, he said he was proud to be the first US president to welcome Messi to the White House.
At the ceremony, Trump spoke in a somewhat "show-style" manner, mentioning that his son is a big fan of Messi. He emphasized that among all the players on the team, Messi will face the greatest pressure, as "only victory is expected of him always and everywhere." The president noted that the Argentinian star won the championship in the USA and once again showed that he is a true champion.
"Lionel, my son is your admirer. He considers you truly a great person. Thank you for coming! I think Messi played under the greatest pressure among all the players in the team, because he was expected to win everywhere and always. He once again showed that he is a true champion and also won the title in the USA," Trump said at the White House.
Photo: Getty Images
The most interesting point is the debate about Pele and Messi. Trump, recalling the words "Pele was very great in football," posed a question to the audience about "who is stronger?" and didn't hide his opinion: according to him, Messi is stronger. This statement has already "exploded" discussions on social media: such comparisons are an eternal debate in football, and Trump added his "interesting gasoline" to this debate.
"They say Pele was great in football. Tell me, who is stronger: Pele or Messi? I think Messi is stronger," Trump said.
For information, Pele, who died in 2022 at the age of 82, was a three-time world champion with the Brazilian national team. The 38-year-old Messi won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, and in 2014, he lost in the final and was limited to a silver medal.
In short, this meeting at the White House didn't become just a simple congratulatory ceremony - it simultaneously became a PR for MLS, another historic scene for Messi, and a new fire for the debate "Pelé or Messi?" Now, the most interesting aspect for the fans is how these words add mood to the results on the field.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
