Biden awards Messi an unprecedented award in International sport

Al Malaeb Newspaper – Argentinian star Lionel Messi, the player of Inter Miami, received a new individual award, but this honor differs from the rest of the titles previously won by the former Barcelona player.

This comes after Messi received the 'Presidential Medal of Freedom' from US President Joe Biden, before his departure from the White House following the end of his term and the arrival of Donald Trump in his place.

The British newspaper Daily Mail said the award caused shock among some because this medal is the highest in the United States of America and is only awarded to individuals who have contributed to the country's prosperity and security, or taken part in the global peacekeeping operation, or other successes.

The newspaper indicated that the 37-year-old received this honor alongside Magic Johnson, the American basketball legend.

This year's awards will be presented at the White House on Saturday, July 4, and will honor other personalities such as Bono, leader of the band “U2”, Hillary Clinton, and Hollywood stars Michael J. Fox and Denzel Washington.

Messi played 39 games during his career with Inter Miami, scoring 34 goals and providing 18 assists. By joining the US team, he sparked a boom in football in the country and led his team to the first title in his country's history, that being the League Cup in 2023, before being crowned last year the Fans' Shield for the regular season of the professional league before exiting the qualifying stage.

It's worth noting that other sports stars to receive the Harem Medal in recent years include golf legend Tiger Woods, soccer star Megan Rapinoe, and Olympic champions Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky.