The recent visit of Lionel Messi, the forward of "Inter Miami," to the White House, where he met with Donald Trump, turned into a scandal. This official reception was organized in honor of the team's victory in the 2025 MLS Cup. However, during the event, the president raised several sharp political issues, including topics related to relations with Iran and Cuba, which sparked outrage among some fans. Videos appeared on social media showing fans from Iran burning Messi jerseys in protest.
Inter Miami's head coach Javier Mascherano noted that players were informed in advance that the meeting would be dedicated solely to sports achievements and congratulations. However, instead, the focus unexpectedly shifted to politics. At the same time, the club's co-owner Jorge Mas shared information about Messi's earnings, stating that his annual income ranges from 70 to 80 million dollars, including salary, bonuses, and various commercial contracts.
Although visits by championship teams to the White House are a well-established tradition in the U.S., this reception has become one of the most discussed in the media due to the political context. So far, the club and Messi's representatives have not commented on the incident with the dissatisfied fans.
