Sports
Projecting Tuesday’s CFP top 12: No surprises, but Rivalry Week looms
Surprise — there were no surprises.
After a ho-hum Week 13 that featured only two games between two ranked opponents, there wasn’t any movement in this week’s top 12 projection, but there are two questions looming over the committee as it debates its fourth of six rankings to be revealed on Tuesday night (7 p.m. ET/ESPN):
Here’s a prediction of what the group might do in the latest ranking on Tuesday night:
Projecting the top 12
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0)
Why they could be here: A dominant win against a now sub.-500 Rutgers team isn’t going to change the way the committee views Ohio State — as the most complete team in the country. Ohio State entered Saturday leading the country in total efficiency and ranked in the top three in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Wins against No. 17 Texas and No. 21 Illinois (which lost to Wisconsin on Saturday) are its only ones against CFP top 25 opponents, but a road win against Washington is also respected in the room. The committee has specifically noted the elite play of receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate — and even with both sidelined with injuries on Saturday, Ohio State was able to dismantle the Rutgers defense.
Why they could be lower: Nothing happened on Saturday that would prompt the committee to rethink the Buckeyes’ place at the top, but Ohio State had the worst schedule strength (No. 48) of the top three teams entering Saturday.
Need to know: Although Ohio State and Indiana remain the most likely matchup in the Big Ten championship game — each controls its own destiny — neither clinched a spot in Week 13. Ohio State can clinch a spot with a win against Michigan OR losses by both Indiana and Oregon. The Buckeyes and Hoosiers are joined by Oregon and Michigan with chances to reach the Big Ten title game, but the latter two teams both need help to clinch.
Remaining game: Nov. 29 at Michigan. The Buckeyes are trying to avoid a fifth straight loss to their rivals.
2. Indiana Hoosiers (11-0)
Why they could be here: With the Hoosiers on a bye — and both Ohio State and Texas A&M playing unranked, inferior opponents — it’s unlikely there’s any movement at the top again. Indiana has earned the committee’s respect with its double-digit win at Oregon and its top-five rankings for both offensive and defensive efficiency. The group has taken note of Indiana’s consistent dominance, with its most glaring struggles coming on the road at Iowa and Penn State, both notoriously difficult places to win. Indiana entered Week 13 ranked No. 3 in the country in ESPN’s game control metric.
Why they could be higher: Given how the committee has voted and deliberated through three rankings, Indiana likely needs Ohio State to lose to Michigan — or IU needs to beat the Buckeyes in the Big Ten title game — to earn the top spot.
Need to know: Indiana can clinch a spot in the Big Ten championship game with a win next week or an Ohio State loss.
Remaining game: Nov. 28 at Purdue. The Hoosiers had a bye to prepare for their regular-season finale against their in-state rivals.
3. Texas A&M Aggies (11-0)
Why they could be here: It’s not because they manhandled Samford, an overmatched 1-11 FCS team. It’s mostly because the Aggies are clinging to a 41-40 win at No. 9 Notre Dame, the highlight of their undefeated résumé. The Nov. 8 win at Mizzou, which came when Tigers starting quarterback Beau Pribula was sidelined with an injury, is a borderline top-25 win that was devalued somewhat on Saturday by Mizzou’s loss to Oklahoma. Texas A&M still leads the nation in ESPN’s strength of record metric, which gives the average top 25 team just a 2.2% chance of achieving the same undefeated record against the same opponents.
Why they could be lower: It’s unlikely anything will change in the third ranking, but if Texas A&M loses to Texas — and doesn’t win the SEC — it will be interesting to see where the Aggies fall on Selection Day. They didn’t face Alabama or Georgia during the regular season, playing just the 12th-most difficult schedule in the SEC, according to ESPN Analytics — ahead of only Vandy, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Missouri. The Aggies rank just outside the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
Need to know: The Aggies will clinch a spot in the SEC championship game with a win against Texas OR if both Alabama and Ole Miss lose.
Remaining game: Nov. 28 at Texas. The Longhorns will have home-field advantage on Friday night after Thanksgiving.
4. Georgia Bulldogs (10-1)
Why they could be here: The Bulldogs are here because of their 35-10 drubbing of Texas on Nov. 15 — not because they overpowered Charlotte 35-3 on Saturday. Georgia has one loss and Alabama has two, so the Bulldogs’ head-to-head loss to the Tide on Sept. 27 was overcome in the third ranking. Wins against Tennessee, Ole Miss and Texas give Georgia one of the best résumés in the country. Georgia entered Saturday ranked No. 4 in ESPN’s strength of record metric and No. 12 in strength of schedule — ahead of Ohio State, Indiana and Texas A&M.
Why they could be higher: It would be surprising to see the committee move Georgia this week — especially since everyone played weaker opponents and Texas Tech was on a bye — but if Texas A&M loses to Texas this Friday, it will open the door for debate between the Bulldogs and Aggies. The committee would compare Texas as a common opponent, and Georgia beat the Longhorns soundly. Georgia also has more wins against ranked opponents (a win against Georgia Tech could add another) and a slightly tougher schedule. Some committee members might also think Georgia has a slightly better loss (Alabama) than A&M (Texas).
Need to know: According to ESPN Research, Georgia can clinch a spot in the SEC title game in Week 14 with an Alabama loss OR a Texas A&M loss.
Remaining game: Nov. 28 vs. Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets (9-2) pushed their in-state rival to eight overtimes last year.
5. Texas Tech Red Raiders (10-1)
Why they could be here: The Red Raiders had a bye week and are “highly regarded by this committee,” chair Hunter Yurachek said following the third ranking. Dominant wins at Utah and against BYU have elevated Texas Tech in the ranking, and the committee has also been impressed with the Red Raiders’ defense, particularly up front. Texas Tech’s lone loss was Oct. 18 at Arizona State, which popped into the latest ranking at No. 25, helping to ease some of that stumble.
Why they could be lower: With both Texas Tech and Ole Miss off on Saturday, it’s unlikely their positions will change in the fourth ranking.
Need to know: Texas Tech is within arm’s reach of a first-round bye, which makes it highly unlikely the Red Raiders would fall out of the playoff even if they finished as the Big 12 runner-up.
Remaining game: Nov. 29 at West Virginia. It’s on the road at a notoriously difficult venue, but the Red Raiders have a 91.6% chance to win, according to ESPN Analytics.
6. Ole Miss Rebels (10-1)
Why they could be here: The committee has had Texas Tech ahead of Ole Miss in part because of a better résumé, though the Red Raiders have two top-25 wins (BYU and Utah), and Ole Miss also has two (Oklahoma and Tulane). The Rebels’ win against the Sooners looks better than Oregon’s win against USC, as the Sooners are a top-10 team and were able to hold off Missouri on Saturday to stay that way.
Why they could be lower: The committee members could consider bumping Oregon ahead of Ole Miss, as they’ve been waiting for a performance like Saturday’s against another CFP contender and the Ducks delivered against USC. Oregon and Ole Miss are extremely close in both strength of record and strength of schedule, and they both lost to a top-four team. Ole Miss also has a win against Tulane, which is now the leader for a Group of 5 playoff spot, and the win against the Sooners was on the road, whereas Oregon beat USC at home. With everything else so comparable, those are some small details that might continue to lean in the Rebels’ favor — if maybe for only another week.
Need to know: The Rebels will clinch a spot in the SEC championship game if they win the Egg Bowl AND both Texas A&M and Alabama lose.
Remaining game: Nov. 28 at Mississippi State. The Rebels don’t have much if any margin for error against their in-state rivals. A second loss would put Ole Miss into a debate it might not win, given its schedule strength ranks No. 15 in the SEC.
7. Oregon Ducks (10-1)
Why they could be here: The Ducks added a much-needed statement win to their résumé on Saturday against USC, solidifying their spot as the Big Ten’s third playoff team. Assuming three-loss USC is still ranked on Tuesday night, though, Saturday’s victory is the Ducks’ only win against a CFP top 25 team. Big Ten opponents Northwestern, Iowa and Minnesota are all above .500, which the committee values, but Ole Miss has a slightly better résumé with its wins against Oklahoma and Tulane.
Why they could be higher: The Ducks have won five straight since their 30-20 home loss against Indiana on Oct. 11, but USC was the kind of strong performance against a top-15 team the committee has been waiting for. And they did it without several key injured players on both sides of the ball.
Need to know: With USC dropping out of the playoff picture, the biggest threat to Oregon is gone, but Michigan can still disrupt the picture in the final week. According to ESPN Research, if Michigan beats rival Ohio State AND Indiana OR Oregon loses, the Wolverines will clinch a spot in the conference championship game. Which team they face depends on how those other results unfold, but they could play any of those three — Indiana, Oregon or Ohio State.
Remaining game: Nov. 29 at Washington. This isn’t an easy road trip, as the bowl-bound Huskies have had a respectable season in the second year under coach Jedd Fisch.
8. Oklahoma Sooners (9-2)
Why they could be here: A win against what was the committee’s No. 22 team in Missouri should further solidify Oklahoma’s foothold in the No. 8 spot because the defense was dominant on a day the offense did just enough. That was Oklahoma’s third straight win against a CFP top 25 opponent, including back-to-back road wins against Tennessee and Alabama. The Sooners also earned a ranked win on Sept. 6 against Michigan, which continues to be valuable after the Wolverines kept their playoff hopes alive on Saturday with a win against Maryland.
Why they could be lower: It’s clear the committee likes Notre Dame, and the Irish hammered Syracuse 70-7. Oklahoma’s defense is one of the best in the country, but the Sooners’ offense is No. 43 in efficiency — well below No. 6 Notre Dame. It would be difficult to justify flipping the Irish above the Sooners, though, given that Syracuse is now 3-8 and OU beat a ranked SEC team on top of having a stronger overall résumé.
Need to know: If the playoff were today, the debate between Oklahoma and Notre Dame would be settled on the field — in Norman, where the Sooners would have home-field advantage in the first round. The No. 8 spot is the last team in the ranking to host a first-round game.
Remaining game: Nov. 29 vs. LSU. The Sooners need to avoid what would be a devastating upset to the four-loss Tigers.
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-2)
Why they could be here: The Irish have won nine straight since an 0-2 start, and the committee has considered Notre Dame’s narrow losses to Texas A&M and Miami important factors in its deliberations. One reason Notre Dame was ranked ahead of two-loss Alabama in the third ranking was because the Irish lost by a combined four points to two ranked opponents. Alabama’s season-opening loss to Florida State and its continued inability to run the ball have held it back. The Irish racked up some style points in Saturday’s drubbing of Syracuse, but the committee has already rewarded Notre Dame for its running game and staunch defense. On Saturday, the Irish scored three touchdowns (two on defense and one on special teams) before the offense even took the field. Notre Dame’s best wins are against USC, Navy and Pitt.
Why they could be higher: If the committee gives Notre Dame another boost, it would be because the Irish have been more consistently dominant on offense than the Sooners. Oklahoma, though, has played tougher competition than Notre Dame over the past few weeks and has the edge in overall schedule strength and strength of record.
Need to know: Although Notre Dame appears safe — and it would certainly be a shock to see it fall out of the playoff field — there is still a nightmare scenario for the Irish. If Alabama wins the SEC and jumps ahead of Notre Dame, pushing the Irish to the No. 10 spot, they could be in trouble if the Big 12 has two playoff teams. If BYU wins the Big 12, and Texas Tech joins it in the top nine as the Big 12 runner-up — then a team currently in the top 10 has to be excluded. The No. 11 team will get bumped out for the ACC champ and the No. 12 team will get knocked out for the Group of 5 champion.
Remaining game: Nov. 29 at Stanford. The Irish have a 95% chance to win, according to ESPN Analytics.
10. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-2)
Why they could be here: The committee made it clear last week that Alabama’s struggles on the ground have been an issue all season. It was one factor that separated No. 9 Notre Dame from No. 10 Alabama in last Tuesday’s ranking. Alabama’s 259 rushing yards in a lopsided 56-0 win against a 3-9 FCS team in Eastern Illinois aren’t going to sway anyone in the room enough to move the Tide up. Alabama still has one of the best résumés in the country, including a win against No. 4 Georgia during a streak of four straight CFP top 25 wins during the middle of the season. The loss to Oklahoma will keep Alabama behind the Sooners as long as the committee deems them comparable.
Why they could be higher: If Alabama’s résumé wasn’t enough to keep the Tide ahead of Notre Dame last week, it’s unlikely to change this week. Alabama entered Saturday No. 8 in strength of record and No. 2 in strength of schedule, both ahead of Notre Dame.
Need to know: With Tennessee’s win on Saturday, Alabama can now clinch a spot in the SEC title game with a win against Auburn.
Remaining game: Nov. 29 at Auburn. The Iron Bowl is a must-win for the Tide.
11. BYU Cougars (10-1)
Why they could be here: With the win at Cincinnati, BYU passed its toughest remaining test of the regular season and earned another road win against a team that was ranked by the committee, albeit for a fleeting moment. BYU’s Oct. 18 win against Utah will continue to resonate in the room after Utah found a way to beat a pesky K-State team. The head-to-head win against the Utes will also keep BYU ahead of them. BYU’s only loss was on the road against No. 5 Texas Tech, but it was a poor performance that raised some eyebrows in the committee meeting room.
Why they could be lower: It would be hard for the committee to justify moving BYU given the head-to-head against Utah and one fewer loss. And Alabama’s résumé will make it very difficult for the Cougars to move up.
Need to know: If the playoff were today, BYU would be bumped out of the field during the seeding process to make room for the ACC champion, which is still projected to be ranked outside of the committee’s top 12 but is guaranteed a spot as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions.
Remaining game: Nov. 29 vs. UCF. The 5-6 Knights will be playing for bowl eligibility.
12. Utah Utes (9-2)
Why they could be here: After Utah found a way to escape K-State on Saturday, its only losses are to the Big 12’s best teams — Texas Tech and BYU — and the committee considers who a team lost to as part of its deliberations. The Utes’ best wins are against Arizona State and Cincinnati, but they lose the head-to-head tiebreaker to BYU.
Why they could be lower: The committee could reward Miami’s convincing road win at Virginia Tech and bump the Canes up a notch because they played far better defense — albeit against a 3-8 ACC team. Utah allowed 472 rushing yards and 11.2 yards per carry against Kansas State — on its home field. It was Miami’s third straight win by at least 17 points, showing some of the consistency committee members had been looking for. Miami’s season-opening win against Notre Dame is also better than any win Utah has earned to date.
Need to know: If the playoff were today, Utah would be excluded during the seeding process to make room for the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion, which this week we project will be Tulane.
Remaining game: Nov. 28 at Kansas. At 5-6, the Jayhawks will be playing for bowl eligibility.
Bracket
Based on the rankings above, the seeding would be:
First-round byes
No. 1 Ohio State (Big Ten champ)
No. 2 Indiana
No. 3 Texas A&M (SEC champ)
No. 4 Georgia
First-round games
On campus, Dec. 19 and 20
No. 12 Tulane (American champ) at No. 5 Texas Tech (Big 12 champ)
No. 11 Miami (ACC champ) at No. 6 Ole Miss
No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Oregon
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma
Quarterfinal games
At the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential and Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
No. 12 Tulane/No. 5 Texas Tech winner vs. No. 4 Georgia
No. 11 Miami/No. 6 Ole Miss winner vs. No. 3 Texas A&M
No. 10 Alabama/No. 7 Oregon winner vs. No. 2 Indiana
No. 9 Notre Dame/No. 8 Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Ohio State
Making bold sporting statements without real repercussions can be fun, and fantasy baseball certainly is fun, so it is time again for us to combine these fun things into one column. Well, really it is two columns, as we get bold separately with the American League and the National League, making myriad predictions and hoping some (or several) may hit. Perhaps not, but at least they should make one think.
For example, a year ago we predicted that Athletics DH Brent Rooker would hit 50 home runs. He did not, but he did not struggle. We predicted Houston Astros RHP Hunter Brown would whiff 200 hitters and make the All-Star team. That did occur. Tampa Bay Rays OF Chandler Simpson very nearly stole 45 bases, but three Chicago White Sox did not hit 25 home runs. Byron Buxton and Mike Trout did play a lot! Grayson Rodriguez and Liam Hendriks did not.
Some (most) of these predictions will look a bit silly in six months, if not sooner. Still, there is a basis for making each of these bold statements, and perhaps it makes you think. Perhaps the player in question has a particular skill — or opportunity — that defies groupthink. Perhaps the statement is not a positive one. Fantasy baseball managers tend to follow rankings and projections but trusting your gut is important, too. Trust yourself. Take a few chances. Perhaps some of these bold picks will look wise in a few months.
With that in mind, let us get bold yet again for the pending season, starting with the American League.
Athletics: Could an Athletic hit 50 home runs this season? With reigning AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, anything seems possible. Let’s give Rooker 40 blasts. … SS Jacob Wilson trades some contact for pop, hitting .280 with 18 home runs. … RHP Luis Severino can’t be that bad again in home games (6.01 ERA): Overall, he wins 13 games with a 3.80 ERA. … RHP Justin Sterner saves 18 games.
Baltimore Orioles: 2B Jackson Holliday (hand) makes his season debut in mid-April and still reaches 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. … Two Orioles hit 40 home runs (SS Gunnar Henderson, 1B Pete Alonso). … OF prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. debuts in July. He steals 26 bases. … LHP Trevor Rogers surprisingly is for real: 15 wins, 2.80 ERA, All-Star appearance. … RHP Andrew Kittredge saves more games than Ryan Helsley.
Boston Red Sox: OF star Roman Anthony hits 40 home runs and he is not the primary leadoff hitter for long. … Seven Red Sox hit 20 home runs, including 1B Triston Casas. … LHP Garrett Crochet whiffs 275 hitters and earns the AL Cy Young Award. … RHP Sonny Gray fans 180 hitters for his fifth team, and he wins a career-high 15 games.
Chicago White Sox: New 1B Munetaka Murakami and SS Colson Montgomery each hit 31 home runs, although neither infielder hits above .220. … New 2B Luisangel Acuna steals 28 bases. … Staff ace RHP Shane Smith makes the AL All-Star team again! … RHP prospect David Sandlin debuts in July, and he posts a 3.40 ERA in 12 starts.
Cleveland Guardians: Three Guardians hit 30 home runs, with newcomer 1B Rhys Hoskins joining 3B Jose Ramirez and 1B Kyle Manzardo. … Brittle OF Chase DeLauter, new No. 2 hitter, bats 510 times. … DH David Fry earns his catcher eligibility in June, and he finishes as a top 15 fantasy catcher. … RHP Tanner Bibee makes his first All-Star game. He wins 15 games and strikes out 200.
Detroit Tigers: OF Kerry Carpenter hits 32 home runs, knocks in 99 runs. … Prospect Max Anderson takes the 3B job in late-May, hits .290 over 420 PA. … RHP Justin Verlander wins 13 games with a 3.40 ERA. He starts Game 2 of the playoffs. … RHP Kenley Jansen saves 36 wins, sailing past 500 saves for his career and he retires.
Houston Astros: 1B Christian Walker leads the team with 30 home runs, with OF Yordan Alvarez and 3B Isaac Paredes adding 28. … Year 2 goes better for OF Cam Smith. He hits .270 with 22 home runs. … New RHP Mike Burrows wins 12 games with 160 strikeouts. … RHP Bryan Abreu saves 25 games and makes the All-Star team. Be very careful about LHP Josh Hader.
Kansas City Royals: Four Royals hit 30 home runs, led by slugging OF Jac Caglianone and solid 1B Vinnie Pasquantino with 34. … OF Starling Marte, active leader in stolen bases (and caught stealing), adds 22 steals. … OF Isaac Collins becomes the every-day 2B and posts a .375 OBP with 22 steals. … RHP Stephen Kolek (oblique), not in the Opening Day rotation, still wins 12 games with a 3.40 ERA.
Los Angeles Angels: SS Zach Neto delivers the third 30/30 season in franchise history (Bobby Bonds, Mike Trout). … Healthy OF Josh Lowe rediscovers his 2023 numbers, hitting 22 home runs and stealing 28 bases. … Speaking of health, RHP Grayson Rodriguez posts a 3.50 ERA over 26 starts, with myriad strikeouts. … LHP Drew Pomeranz saves 20 games.
Minnesota Twins: 2B Luke Keaschall scores 90 runs as leadoff hitter, batting .285 with 32 stolen bases. … OF Byron Buxton and 3B Royce Lewis each bat more than 500 times, and each reaches 30 home runs. … RHP Zebby Matthews breaks out with a 3.50 ERA and 170 strikeouts.
New York Yankees: OF Trent Grisham nearly does it again, hitting 30 home runs with 90 walks. … Grisham and C Ben Rice are among six Yankees who reach 30 home runs. … RHP Gerrit Cole (elbow) returns in May, and he wins 14 of his 22 starts with a 3.20 ERA. … LHP Ryan Weathers surprises with a 3.50 ERA in 24 starts.
Seattle Mariners: 2B Brendan Donovan scores 90 runs as leadoff hitter, while adding a .295 batting average. … SS prospect Colt Emerson debuts in May and he hits 15 home runs. … Five Mariners starting pitchers (Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Bryce Miller) make at least 28 starts with an ERA better than 3.50.
Tampa Bay Rays: An improved 3B Junior Caminero hits .280 with 50 home runs, and he ends up second in MVP voting. … OF Jonny DeLuca stays healthy enough to steal 30 bases, while OF Chandler Simpson steals 62 bases. … RHP Brody Hopkins debuts in July and dominates with a 2.80 ERA in 14 starts. … RHP Griffin Jax saves 28 wins.
Texas Rangers: OF Wyatt Langford stays healthy enough to appear in 152 games, reaching 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Ian Kinsler was the last Ranger to reach 30/30 (2011). … 1B Jake Burger and DH Joc Pederson bounce back and each delivers 28 home runs. … RHP Nathan Eovaldi leads the staff with a 2.80 ERA in 26 starts and makes his third All-Star team.
Toronto Blue Jays: OF George Springer nearly does it again, hitting .280 with 28 home runs and 96 runs scored. … New 3B Kazuma Okamoto hits cleanup, protecting 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and he hits 28 home runs. … RHP Dylan Cease makes his first All-Star team, posts a 3.36 ERA. … RHP Louis Varland leads the team with 22 saves.
Sports
Pakistan qualify for Hockey World Cup 2026 after edging Japan in qualifiers | The Express Tribune
Pakistan hockey team’s sudden omission from prestigious Azlan Shah Cup has dismayed fans and critics. PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan qualified for the Hockey World Cup 2026 after defeating Japan in the semi-final of the World Cup qualifying tournament on Friday.
The Men in Green continued their unbeaten run in the tournament, securing a 4-3 victory over Japan in Egypt to confirm their place in the global event and end an eight-year wait for World Cup qualification.
Pakistan scored one goal in the first quarter and added three more in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
For Pakistan, Imad Muhammad, Abubakar Mahmood, Sufyan Khan and Afraz each scored a goal.
Goalkeeper Ali Raza played a decisive role in the victory by stopping a penalty stroke late in the match. Japan were awarded the penalty stroke four minutes before the end of the game, but Raza blocked it to help Pakistan secure the win and advance to the final while also confirming their place in the World Cup.
The leadership of the Pakistan Hockey Federation congratulated the team on the achievement with President Mohiuddin Wani saying the athletes played “excellently in nervous competition”.
Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi also congratulated the team.
“The players performed brilliantly in the tournament and qualified for the world cup after eight years. This success is the result of teamwork and hard work of the players. This win proves that Pakistan has hockey talent.
“The excellent performance of all the players, including captain Imad Shakeel Butt, is commendable. Hopefully the national team will return by winning the final,” he said in a statement.
The tournament is scheduled to begin on August 14 this year in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Pakistan had failed to qualify for the previous edition of the World Cup and had last secured a spot in the tournament in 2018.
Lionel Messi drew high praise from President Donald Trump as the Argentine superstar and his Inter Miami team were honoured at the White House on Thursday for winning the MLS Cup last year.
The president said: “It’s my distinct privilege to say what no American president has ever had the chance to say before: ‘Welcome to the White House, Lionel Messi.'”
Trump went on to reveal the affection his 19-year-old son Barron has for Messi.
“My son said, ‘Dad, you know who’s going to be there today?’ I said, ‘No, I got a lot of things going on today,'” Trump said. “He said ‘Messi!’ He’s a big fan of yours. He thinks you’re just a great person. And I think you got to meet a little while ago. So he’s a big soccer fan, but he’s a tremendous fan of yours. And a gentleman named Ronaldo. Cristiano is great. You’re great.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi’s longtime rival in European soccer, attended a White House event with Trump last year.
Regarding Messi’s impact on Inter Miami, Trump said: “This guy won. There was tremendous fanfare, and he won. Leo, you came in and won. It’s hard to do. … You came in and won with all that pressure.”
Wading into the area of soccer history, Trump said to Messi, “You may be better than Pele,” and he asked those in attendance, “Who’s better?”
Trump said of the Inter Miami squad: “What a group of people. We could have a lot of fun with these guys. You can imagine how they celebrate.”
The president singled out Rodrigo De Paul, an Argentine midfielder who scored the go-ahead goal in the Herons’ 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup final.
“Where the hell is Rodrigo?” Trump asked, causing De Paul to blush.
The president added: “Do you have any bad-looking players? I like the bad-looking players much better.”
Messi gave Trump a pink signed Inter Miami soccer ball, and club co-owner Jorge Mas and coach Javier Mascherano presented the president with a team jersey and a watch.
Mas said: “It’s our aspiration to continue breaking barriers and putting no limits, to making sure Major League Soccer and Inter Miami are considered among the elite in global football.”
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