Lionel Messi, one of the most famous athletes in the world, finds himself under fire from liberals after he snubbed Joe Biden last week. The Argentinian superstar was set to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the highest civilian honor in the United States—but instead chose to simply relax with his family instead.
The event, held at the White House, brought together prominent figures such as Bono, Magic Johnson, Hillary Clinton, and Michael J. Fox, all of whom accepted their awards from President Joe Biden. Messi, however, was notably absent, and no representative appeared on his behalf.
White House officials later attributed Messi’s absence to a “scheduling conflict,” according to The Mirror. Yet, the lack of any formal acknowledgment during the announcement of the honorees has only fueled public speculation and frustration from Democrats who were angered by the slight.
Messi’s selection for the Medal of Freedom had already drawn mixed reactions, wrote The Daily Mail. While his contributions to humanitarian causes through the Leo Messi Foundation and his role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador are widely respected, critics argued that they might not fully align with the traditional reasons for awarding the honor.
Supporters, on the other hand, emphasized Messi’s profound influence on soccer in the U.S., his global philanthropic initiatives, and his unparalleled accomplishments on the field, including World Cup and Copa America triumphs.
The soccer star later released a statement, saying, “It’s a great honor to receive this recognition. I’m truly grateful for it. Unfortunately, I have a prior commitment and won’t be able to attend the ceremony at the White House on January 4. But I deeply appreciate this gesture.”
[Read More: All State CEO Under Fire After Strange Comments]
Good call Bravo