Donald Trump finds the comparison to Messi and Ronaldo amusing.
On the sidelines of the 2026 World Cup draw, the US president, Donald Trump, spoke about his past experience playing football, humorously comparing himself to the two legends of the game.
Donald Trump et Antonio Costa@Instagram
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, made a rather surprising statement by mentioning his past experience playing football, comparing himself — with a touch of self-deprecation — to the icons of the game, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
In a short interview with Futbol RCN and Noticias RCN, the US leader said he played football in his youth, while acknowledging that he obviously didn’t reach the level of the two contemporary legends of the game.
On Friday, Donald Trump spoke to the audience alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the 2026 World Cup draw, held at the Kennedy Center in Washington. Asked about his relationship with football, he replied lightly: “Believe it or not, I played it, and I loved it.”
Continuing in the same vein, Trump added: «I wasn’t Ronaldo or Messi; I was a bit below them. I might have been a bit faster, but it was okay. I really enjoyed playing football.» Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi remain, however, absolute benchmarks of world football, symbols of excellence, longevity, and dominance at the highest level for nearly two decades.