United States President Barack Obama says his daughters would love to meet Lionel Messi

Obama was in Argentina this week for a state visit. / Casa Rosada
The American president tells the media of his daughters’ wish while on an official visit in Argentina

The President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, on an official visit to Argentina, revealed a special request forwarded by his teenage daughters.

Specifically, Mr. Obama spoke of their wish to personally meet Lionel Messi, the global football star and member of Futbol Club Barcelona and the Argentina national team.

Mr. Obama, in Argentina following his historic visit to Cuba, publicly unveiled the hopes of his daughters Malia and Sasha, who are fans of Messi.

Nevertheless, the introduction will have to wait, as the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is currently in Chile, where Argentina are getting ready to face their South American neighbors in a qualifying match for the 2018 World Cup.

“My daughters met Pope Francis,” Mr. Obama said. “And now they want to meet Messi, but I still haven’t been able to set it up.”

Both Malia and Sasha have played soccer and are fond of this sport.

Speaking to a group of young Argentine entrepreneurs, Mr. Obama also had praise for Manu Ginobili, another well-known Argentinian athlete. Ginobili plays for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. Basketball is one of Mr. Obama’s biggest passions.

Another reference to Messi in 2011

This is not the first time Mr. Obama has made a public statement about Messi. Back In 2011, he compared himself to the FC Barcelona striker during an official reception for the Major League Soccer (MLS) champions, the Colorado Rapids.

It was then the Jeff Plush, the director of the Rapids, flattered the so-called leader of the free world by giving Mr. Obama a Rapids jersey inscribed with the number 10.

When Plush said the number 10 was ‘reserved for the team’s leader,’ Mr. Obama replied: “Just like myself and Messi, at the same level.”