Alexi Lalas (left) and Lionel Messi (right)
Former USMNT defender Alexi Lalas has criticized Lionel Messi for not attending the Presidential Medal of Freedom award ceremony at the White House. The Inter Miami ace was one of 19 people to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom - America's highest civilian honor.
Messi earned the prestigious award due to his prowess on the pitch as well as his charity work away from Football, as explained by The White House (via GOAL):
"He supports healthcare and education programs for children around the world through the Leo Messi Foundation and serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador."
Numerous celebrities attended the event on January 4, 2025, including Denzel Washington and Hillary Clinton. However, Lionel Messi was nowhere to be seen with his team releasing a public statement, detailing the reason for his absence. They posted, as per the source mentioned above:
