Lionel Messi, the Argentine forward, explained why he was unable to attend the ceremony for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which took place in Washington in January 2025.
Messi was among the recipients according to the decision made by then-President Joe Biden shortly before the end of his term. The official statement from the White House emphasized that the award was given to the athlete for his humanitarian initiatives, including the work of the Lionel Messi Foundation and support for health and education programs for children around the world, as well as his role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
In 2025, the medal was awarded to 19 laureates, including well-known actors such as Denzel Washington and Michael J. Fox, as well as famous basketball player Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Unlike the other honorees, Messi not only did not attend the ceremony but also did not send a representative, which sparked discussions in sports and political circles.
In an interview published by journalist Fabrizio Romano, Messi expressed gratitude for the recognition, explaining his absence due to prior commitments:
“It is a great honor for me to receive this award, and I am sincerely grateful for it. Unfortunately, I already had other commitments scheduled, so I was unable to attend the ceremony at the White House on January 4. Nevertheless, I truly appreciate this gesture.”
It later became known that the White House informed FIFA, and the information was passed to Messi's club at the end of December. The footballer officially responded, pointing out the date conflict, and expressed hope for a future meeting with the President of the United States.
