"Maradona Would Not Have Gone"... 'God of Football' Messi Criticized for Meeting Trump

Lionel Messi, known as the "God of Football," who visited the White House as a member of the Major League Soccer (MLS) championship team, is facing criticism from some football fans.

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Lionel Messi, captain of Major League Soccer (MLS) champion Inter Miami, at an event held at the White House on the 5th (local time). Photo by UPI

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On March 9, Yonhap News reported, "Some football fans are criticizing Messi for meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on the 5th (local time) together with his Inter Miami teammates."

These critics have raised issues with Messi's attendance at the White House event amid heightened international tensions following recent US and Israeli military action against Iran. In particular, they pointed out that Messi's visit was inappropriate, noting his role as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, in light of an incident where an elementary school in Iran was bombed, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 children and teachers.

Previously, Messi declined an invitation to the presidential palace from the President of Argentina after winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. At that time, the national team as a whole decided not to visit the presidential palace despite President Alberto Fernandez's invitation, in order to avoid safety concerns and political controversy. It was not a case of Messi individually refusing the invitation, but rather a collective decision by the team.

Some fans criticized, saying, "When millions came out to celebrate the World Cup victory, he refused to visit the presidential palace to avoid political controversy, so why did he attend the White House event now?"

Other fans compared Messi to Argentina's football legend Diego Maradona. Maradona attended the English Football Association's centenary event in 1987, but declined to participate in a tea party hosted by then-Prince Charles (now King Charles III). Citing the Falklands War (also known as the Malvinas War, between Argentina and the UK), Maradona reportedly said at the time, "I cannot have tea with people who killed my compatriots. Their hands are stained with the blood of young Argentinians."

News of Messi's visit has also drawn attention on social media to the fact that, following their success at the 2026 Winter Olympics, members of the US women's ice hockey team, as well as basketball stars Stephen Curry and LeBron James, declined invitations from President Trump.

In response, fans defending Messi have emphasized that this White House visit was not a personal event for Messi, but rather an official team-level engagement. Others argued that, given the traditional protocol in American sports of inviting championship teams to the White House for a celebratory event, it is unnecessary to assign excessive political significance to the occasion. Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami's manager, also said, "It was in line with a long-standing protocol in American sports."

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