Lionel Messi, at 37, has achieved more than most professional athletes dream of. He’s captured 46 titles for club and country, earned eight Ballons d’Or, and led Argentina to a long-awaited World Cup triumph.
Yet his absence on Saturday at the White House, where President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 18 other recipients, raised questions about why the globe’s most decorated soccer player didn’t seize that moment.
Messi’s representatives and Inter Miami confirmed that FIFA informed the club of the honor in December. He was recognized for what a White House statement described as supporting “healthcare and education programs for children around the world through the Leo Messi Foundation” and serving “as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.”
Organizers saw him as the first men’s footballer to receive this award, the highest civilian honor in the United States. Magic Johnson, Hillary Rodham Clinton, actor Denzel Washington, and science educator Bill Nye were also awarded. All attended the event.
A Busy Schedule, A Missed Moment
When the time came, though, the Argentine star was nowhere to be found. His management explained his decision in a letter submitted to the White House: “Leo, through the club, sent a letter to the White House saying that he is deeply honored and that it is a profound privilege to receive this recognition but that due to scheduling conflicts and prior commitments he was going to be unable to attend. He appreciated the gesture and noted that he hopes to have the opportunity to meet in the near future.”
It’s never easy for an international icon to find space in his calendar, especially one as prized by both club and country. Messi spent his first full season in Major League Soccer, guiding Inter Miami to a record 74-point campaign, scoring 20 goals and delivering 16 assists in just 19 matches. He’s expected to face a packed 2025 schedule, with league play and the FIFA Club World Cup on the horizon.
Some might wonder if missing the ceremony undercuts the award’s significance, but those who’ve followed his trajectory know his philanthropic record reflects the same excellence he brings to the field. He was acknowledged alongside luminaries of American society, and though he wasn’t there in person, his acceptance marks a milestone for the sport.
