Today was one of the strangest days of my football career.
Inter Miami and I were invited to visit the White House, something that should feel like a celebration of the sport and the way football connects people across cultures. When we arrived in Washington, there were cameras everywhere, reporters shouting questions, and an atmosphere that felt heavier than any stadium before a final.
President Donald Trump greeted us warmly, shaking hands and congratulating the team. But it quickly became clear that this visit was not only about football. The conversations around us kept circling back to politics, to conflict, to tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iraq.
As athletes, we are used to representing clubs, cities, and sometimes entire nations. But standing there today, I felt how easily sport can be pulled into things far bigger than a game. Some officials spoke about “symbolism” and “strength,” as if our visit could send a message to the world.
For me, football has always meant unity. In a stadium, fans from different backgrounds can celebrate the same goal. That is the power of sport.
If today proved anything, it is that football reaches everywhere—even places where the game itself should probably stay out of politics.
