Lionel Messi received the key to the city of Miami, at the event where Infantino and Donald Trump spoke
Article by Daniel Grigore – Published on Thursday, 06 November 2025, 13:05 / Updated on Thursday, 06 November 2025 13:15
On Wednesday night, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez presented Lionel Messi with the key to the city, “for what you have done for our great city, for our country and for the world of soccer.” He was presented with the award at an event attended by US President Donald Trump, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
In the summer of 2023, half a year after becoming world champion for the first time, Lionel Messi left Europe and signed with Inter Miami, a transfer that greatly increased the popularity of soccer in the United States of America.
After more than two years, the Argentinian footballer was handed the key to the city. “I wanted to give you the key for everything you have done for our great city, our country and the world of football. Thank you,” said the mayor.
Lionel Messi received the key to the city of Miami
Lionel Messi // photo: Imago Images
Jorge Mas, co-owner of the Inter Miami club, added to the mayor: “This is a small gift from this city that has conquered all of our hearts. You, your wife Antonela and your beautiful family are welcome here. We want you to always feel at home here.”
Messi's reaction?
“Thank you, I feel very honored. We feel very loved here and we are very grateful and happy to live in this city. To receive this award is a great honor for me, so thank you.”
“After I got to Miami, I realized it's spectacular. To live in this city for the first time is incredible. And the way everyone has behaved from day one… What's happening today is another demonstration of how welcome I feel. I am happy in this place and happy to continue [la Miami]“, he added, alluding to the fact that he recently signed an extension until 2028 with Inter Miami.
FIFA has announced a new prize for peace, and the recipient seems obvious
At the event held under the umbrella of the American Business Forum, speeches were also given Donald Trumpthe president of the USA, respectively Gianni Infantinothe president of FIFA and close to the head of state. Trump spoke hours before Infantino and Messithe latter being the last speaker of Wednesday.
On this occasion, FIFA announced the establishment of a new prize for peace, because “football unites the world”. According to the forum that governs international football, this award will be given “to individuals who have done exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace, respectively to those who have united people from all over the world”.
All indications point to Donald Trump as the first winner of this award. It is well known that the US president would have liked to win the Nobel Peace Prize, claiming to have ended eight wars after returning to office in January.
Donald Trump: “I want to be president when we host the World Cup”
The 2026 World Cup was a recurring theme. Lionel Messi stated, on this subject, that “it is an important moment for soccer, in the United States and in general, and I hope that it will be taken advantage of so that soccer continues to grow.”
Previously, Donald Trump had said that “when they rigged the election”, referring to the mandate lost in 2020 to Joe Biden, “I thought I have to run again because I want to be president when we host the World Cup”.
Infantino, in the audience, was caught smiling.
