Messi stands up to Biden and does not attend the presentation of the Medal of Freedom for “scheduling reasons”

Apparently, the footballer alleged “scheduling problems” to justify his absence at the event, according to the American media CBS Newswhich cites White House sources. In fact, Messi allegedly warned in advance that he would not attend the gala and even offered the president of the United States, Joe Biden, the possibility of picking her up when he returned to the country from Argentina, according to the newspaper. ‘Clarion’.

The captain of the albiceleste knew that he would receive this recognition at the end of December, when he had already assumed a series of commitments in Argentinawhere he spends the Christmas holidays with his family before returning to training with Inter Miami. When he found out, he sent a message of thanks to Biden and explained the reasons for his absence.

In the letter sent through Inter Miami, to which ‘Clarín’ had access, Messi described it as a “profound honor” and an “enormous privilege” to have been awarded this decoration and justified his absence: “Unfortunately, I have a commitment prior and I will not be able to attend the ceremony at the White House on January 4 (…) However, I want you to know that I sincerely value this gesture.

Messi’s absence was evident from the moment the winners entered the room and was even more evident when he was not mentioned during the medal ceremony, which was carried out in alphabetical order. The athlete was the only one of the 19 people recognized with the medal who did not participate in the ceremony nor did he send anyone to pick it up on his behalf.

“The 19th person chosen to receive the award – soccer megastar Lionel Messi – did not attend the ceremony or send a representative to accept it on his behalf due to a scheduling conflictaccording to the White House,” reported this Saturday on the website of ‘The New York Times’.

Among the winners is the Spanish chef José Andrés, awarded for his work with his NGO World Central Kitchen, which, according to the White House, “has revolutionized the way in which food aid reaches affected communities due to natural disasters and conflicts around the world.

Also honored have been former basketball player ‘Magic’ Johnson; the actors Michael J. Fox and Denzel Washington; Irish singer Bono (U2); former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; financier George Soros; fashion designer Ralph Lauren; the editor of the trend magazine ‘Vogue’, Anna Wintour; the scientific communicator Bill Nye and the conservation ethologist Jane Goodall.

Two other prominent figures in US politics received a posthumous tribute during the ceremony. On the one hand, the former attorney general Robert F. Kennedybrother of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and assassinated like him, and George Romneyformer Republican governor of Michigan and father of former Senator Mitt Romney.

The list is completed by the former secretary of defense Ashton Baldwin Carterthe businessman and activist for LGBT rights Tim Gillthe defender of the rights of black people Fannie Lou Hamerthe philanthropist David M. Rubenstein and the writer and director George Stevens, Jr..