Trump Hails Lionel Messi as World’s Biggest Football Star

U.S. President Donald Trump has hailed Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi as the biggest football star in the world today.

Speaking to sports streaming platform DAZN after Chelsea’s 3–0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday night, Trump praised the Argentine icon, expressing admiration for his impact on the sport and his presence in Major League Soccer (MLS).

While Trump acknowledged Brazilian legend Pelé as the greatest footballer of all time, he reserved high praise for Messi, calling him a global phenomenon and a valuable asset to American soccer.

“Messi, yes, he’s a great star—probably the biggest soccer star on this planet,” Trump said, as quoted by Tribuna. “Our country is lucky to have him playing here every week.”

Messi, who joined Inter Miami in 2023, featured in this year’s FIFA Club World Cup, though his team exited the tournament in the round of 16.

In the final match, Chelsea secured the title with a dominant first-half performance, as Cole Palmer netted two similar goals and assisted João Pedro to seal a convincing win over PSG.