Lionel Messi did not attend a special ceremony at the White House on Saturday to receive his Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Messi was expected at the White House to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the highest American civilian honor – but he was conspicuous by his absence. The ceremony was filled with stars such as Denzel Washington, Bono, Magic Johnson and Hillary Clinton, but Messi was nowhere to be found.
The official reason for Messi’s absence was a ‘planning error’. However, no one was sent in his place to collect his award, meaning his name was not even read when the 2025 medal recipients were announced at the glitzy ceremony in Washington.
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-A statement issued on his behalf said: “The White House informed FIFA, who informed the club in late December, that Leo would receive this recognition. Leo, through the club, sent a letter to the White House saying that he felt deeply honored and that it was a great privilege to receive this recognition but that due to scheduling conflicts and previous commitments, he could not be present. He thanked the gesture and noted that he hoped to have the opportunity to meet him in the near future. »
Messi received this honor not only for his incredible success on the pitch but also for his charitable work. The White House said in a statement: “He supports health and education programs for children around the world through the Leo Messi Foundation and is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. »
Messi is currently enjoying a break from football during the offseason and has been spending time with his family. The Argentine is expected to return to action next month for the new season as he enters the final year of his current contract at Inter Miami.
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