The Inter Miami star has been awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom, but did not show up for the ceremony in Washington DC.
Lionel Messi has explained the reason for his surprise absence from an awards ceremony hosted by President Joe Biden at the White House.
The Argentinian was named as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, alongside such luminaries as Hillary Clinton, Bill Nye and Jane Goodall. It is the highest civilian honor in the United States, but Messi was not present.
But later on Saturday, Messi's team issued a statement explaining why.
“The White House notified FIFA, which informed the club at the end of December that Leo would receive this recognition. Leo sent a letter to the White House through the club saying that he is deeply honored and privileged to receive this recognition, but that due to scheduling conflicts and prior commitments he cannot attend. He thanked the gesture and noted that he hopes to meet him in the near future.”
The 37-year-old is known to be reluctant to appear in public and prioritizes his privacy when not on the pitch. Nevertheless, it has surprised many that they did not receive an award from the president.
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