Argentine star Lionel Messi was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the United States, by President Joe Biden on Saturday.
Messi, who is the first Argentine and the first male soccer player to receive the honour, failed to attend the ceremony at the White House.
The Argentine World Cup winner and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner now plays in the United States for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami.
Other recipients of the award, including U2 singer and activist Bono, former basketball star Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attended the ceremony at the White House.
Messi’s representatives said in a statement shared by Inter Miami that Messi had a prior commitment.
The statement read: “The White House informed FIFA, who informed the club at the end of December that Leo was going to be awarded with this recognition.
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“Leo, through the club, sent a letter to the White House saying that he is deeply honored and that it is a profound privilege to receive this recognition but that due to scheduling conflicts and prior commitments he was going to be unable to attend.
“He appreciated the gesture and noted that he hopes to have the opportunity to meet in the near future.”
The award is given to individuals who have made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace or other significant societal, public or private endeavors,” according to the White House.
The White House statement said Messi had been given the award as “the most decorated player in the history of professional soccer. He supports healthcare and education programs for children around the world through the Leo Messi Foundation and serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.”
Biden handed USA women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe the medal in 2022, the first time a soccer player has been given the honour.
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