Soccer Legend Lionel Messi Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, But Does Not Attend Ceremony
Lionel Messi, the legendary soccer player, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Saturday, but he did not attend the ceremony at the White House to receive the medal from President Biden. Messi was one of 19 recipients of the award, alongside NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
According to USA Today, Messi’s management team and his professional team, Inter Miami, informed the White House ahead of time that he would not be able to attend the ceremony due to scheduling conflicts. Messi had previously joined Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami in 2023, making him one of the biggest superstar recruitments in the league’s 31-year history.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.” The award was presented to Messi for his support of health and education programs for children worldwide through his Messi Foundation and his role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
The ceremony also sparked controversy, with news that President Biden would award the medal to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and left-wing billionaire George Soros sparking mass outrage on social media and backlash from prominent conservative figures.
Messi has not expressed any prominent political beliefs during his career and has not publicly acknowledged the award on social media. However, he did release a statement saying that he is “deeply honored” and it is a “profound privilege” to receive the recognition.
The 37-year-old soccer star is widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, having set numerous individual records with eight Ballon d’Or awards and eight times being named FIFA’s world’s best player. He is the most decorated player in the history of professional soccer, having won 45 team trophies, including four UEFA Champions Leagues, two Copa Americas and one FIFA World Cup.
