Yes, you read that headline correctly. United States President Joe Biden will give the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, to Inter Miami star Lionel Messi on Saturday.
Messi is one of 19 people receiving the honor from Biden including basketball star Magic Johnson, Bill Nye the Science guy, actor Denzel Washington and Hillary Clinton.
Messi isn’t the first soccer player to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Biden bestowed the award to United States women’s national team star and human rights activist Megan Rapinoe in 2022.
Lionel Messi Presidential Medal of Freedom
In a statement from the White House about the 19 new recipients, it said that they’ve made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.”
As for Messi specifically, the White House highlighted his work on and off the field.
“Lionel Messi is the most decorated player in the history of professional soccer. He supports health and education programs for children worldwide through his Leo Messi Foundation and serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador,” the White House stated.
Messi is coming off an MVP season in Major League Soccer after scoring 20 goals and providing 10 assists in just 19 league games.