Former American defender Alexi Lalas has voiced his disapproval regarding the decision to grant Lionel Messi the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Inter Miami captain was one of 19 individuals who received this honor from President Joe Biden last Saturday. This award, regarded as the highest civilian honor in the U.S., was also given to Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and LGBT activist Tim Gill, among others. However, Lalas has expressed his criticism of the choice on his podcast, “State of the Union.” He described it as “odd and absurd” since Messi only relocated to the U.S. in July 2023, when he joined Inter Miami as a free agent after departing from Paris Saint-Germain. “The fact that Messi was awarded the Medal of Freedom is absurd,” Lalas stated. “He’s been here for, what, a year and a half?” He mentioned, “It’s odd, but if you’re bestowed with that honor, you ought to show respect, and Messi was the only one who didn’t show up for the event.” Messi did not attend the event because White House officials stated that the Argentine had a scheduling conflict. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner played a key role in Inter Miami’s first-ever trophy win, the 2023 Leagues Cup, and in achieving a record for the highest points in a season.
