President Biden presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to several prominent individuals, including Hillary Clinton and Denzel Washington.
Lionel Messi was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian award, by Outgoing President Joe Biden on Saturday. However, the football icon was absent from the ceremony held at the White House.
Messi’s representatives said in a statement distributed by Inter Miami that Messi had a prior commitment.
Here’s what the statement said
As per the statement, “The White House informed FIFA, who informed the club at the end of December that Leo was going to be awarded with this recognition. Leo, through the club, sent a letter to the White House saying that he is deeply honored and that it is a profound privilege to receive this recognition but that due to scheduling conflicts and prior commitments he was going to be unable to attend.”
The statement added, “He appreciated the gesture and noted that he hopes to have the opportunity to meet in the near future.”
Who are awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom?
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavours.
Who are the other who received the award?
Biden also presented the US’ highest civilian award to former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, controversial philanthropist George Soros, and actor Denzel Washington among others.
Others including Fannie Lou Hamer, who transformed the struggle for racial justice in America; Ashton Carter, who served as the 25th Secretary of Defence; Robert Francis Kennedy remembered as an Attorney General who fiercely combatted racial segregation; George W Romney, a businessman who served as the chairman and president of American Motors Corporation, were awarded posthumously.
Ahead of giving the awards, Biden said, “This group of people leave an incredible mark on our country with insight and influence that can be felt around the globe in major cities and remote areas of life, finding us closer as people and showing us that what’s possible as a nation, nothing beyond our capacity.”