Soccer legend Lionel Messi was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Saturday, however didn’t seem in particular person on the White Home to obtain medal from President Biden.
Messi was one in every of 19 recipients of the award, together with NBA Corridor of Famer Magic Johnson.
In line with USA In the present day, Messi’s administration staff and his skilled staff Inter Miami knowledgeable the White Home forward of time that he wouldn’t have the ability to attend the ceremony as a consequence of scheduling conflicts.
Messi got here to the US in 2023 to hitch Main League Soccer’s Inter Miami in one of many largest famous person signings within the league’s 31-year historical past.
Messi has solely performed in European leagues and for Argentina for many of his profession up thus far.
“Leo Messi is probably the most embellished participant within the historical past {of professional} soccer. He helps well being and teaching programs for youngsters world wide by his Messi Basis and serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador,” a White Home spokesman introduced as Biden held the medal.
Main League Soccer launched a brief assertion on social media congratulating Messi on the award. Messi himself has not acknowledged the award with a put up on social media on the time of publication. In line with USA In the present day, the star mentioned “he’s deeply honored and it’s a nice privilege to obtain this recognition.”
The medal is the nation’s highest civilian honor, given to individuals who have made “excellent contributions to the prosperity, values, or safety of the US, world peace, or different important public, public, or personal endeavors,” in keeping with the White Home.
Biden’s re-election marketing campaign cited Messi’s arrival in Main League Soccer as a catalyst for soccer’s rising significance to the American public in the course of the 2024 Copa America soccer event. in Atlanta in June.
After Messi led Argentina to the World Cup title in December 2022, Biden jokingly wrote: “You already know, I feel this Messi might need a future” in a congratulatory X put up.
Nevertheless, with Messi absent, Saturday’s ceremony additionally sparked controversy. Information that Biden would current the medal to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and left-wing billionaire George Soros sparked widespread outrage on social media and backlash, notably from outstanding conservative figures.
Critics pointed to Clinton’s dealing with of the battle in Libya and the assault on United States authorities services in Benghazi, Libya, in addition to her controversial personal electronic mail server for presidency enterprise, prompting former FBI Director James Comey to say publicly that Clinton has mishandled categorised data data.
The Soros prize, a Democratic megadonor, has been criticized based mostly on the billionaire’s earlier marketing campaign funding of progressive, soft-on-crime district attorneys, which they are saying has led to crime waves in blue cities.
“Critically, two of the worst folks on earth,” on-line commentator Blake Habian wrote of Clinton’s X and Soros.
Messi has not expressed any overt political views throughout his profession.
In February 2024 Messi didn’t play in an exhibition match in Hong Kong, remaining on the bench throughout a match between Inter Miami and an area staff.
Following his refusal to play, one in every of Argentina’s friendlies scheduled to be performed in China in March was cancelled.
China’s state-run newspaper, the International Occasions, printed an editorial highlighting an unsubstantiated “principle” that advised Messi’s actions had been “politically motivated” and that “exterior forces” wished to embarrass Hong Kong. However Messi insisted his resolution not to participate within the match was not politically motivated on the time.
“I’ve heard folks say that I did not wish to play (in Hong Kong) for political causes and lots of different causes which are utterly false,” Messi mentioned in Spanish in a video with Chinese language and English subtitles. “If that was the case, I would not even be touring to Japan or visiting China as many instances as I’ve.”
Extensively considered one of many best footballers of all time, Messi, 37, set quite a few particular person information with eight Ballon d’Or awards and was named FIFA’s finest participant on the planet eight instances. He’s probably the most embellished participant within the historical past {of professional} soccer, having gained 45 staff trophies, together with 4 UEFA Champions Leagues, two Copa Americas and one FIFA World Cup.
