Lionel Messi's visit to the White House made a lasting impression. The Inter Miami CF captain and his teammates were received by US President Donald Trump to celebrate their Major League Soccer (MLS) title. The official ceremony included a speech that was as unexpected as it was widely discussed.

In the United States, it is traditional for championship teams in the major professional leagues to be invited to the White House. Like the winners of the National Basketball Association or the National Football League, the MLS champions were therefore honored in Washington.

.

A few months after hosting Cristiano Ronaldo at a meeting related to Saudi Arabia's partners, Donald Trump this time met with the other huge star of world football, Lionel Messi.

During his speech, the American president made a point of praising the Argentinian's exceptional career. "We love champions, we love winners," he declared before congratulating the multi-award-winning player. "Leo has won the 47th trophy of his incredible career, an absolute record. You could have chosen any club in the world, and you decided to come to Miami. Thank you for taking us on this journey."

But true to form, Donald Trump quickly changed tack. Midway through his speech, he addressed the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, referring to military operations conducted by the United States with its Israeli allies. This digression surprised several observers, including the British newspaper The Guardian, which highlighted the contrast between a festive sporting event and a speech alluding to armed conflict.

The American president then returned to the topic of football, mentioning his son Barron, a big fan of Lionel Messi. "My son asked me if I knew who was going to be there today. I told him no, that I was very busy. He said, 'Messi will be there.' He's a huge fan of yours, and also of a certain Ronaldo," Trump recounted.

In a lighter moment, he even ventured into a comparison between Messi and one of the greatest legends in football history, Pelé. "Maybe you're better than Pelé. Pelé was very good. Who's the best? Pelé or Messi? I think Messi, but Pelé was truly exceptional," he said, eliciting smiles and reactions from the audience.

Between sporting tributes and unexpected statements, this meeting between Lionel Messi and Donald Trump at the White House certainly left no one indifferent.