On Saturday at the White House, President Joe Biden presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to honor 19 people for their distinguished accomplishments. One person who was absent from that ceremony was Argentina soccer legend and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi,

Magic Johnson and Lionel Messi are among 19 people receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden, the White House announced Saturday, the morning of the awards. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the United States’ highest civilian honor.

Lionel Messi was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, by President Joe Biden on Saturday but did not attend the ceremony at the White House.But while other recipients of the award,