Trump Unveils His Football GOAT — Not Messi, Ronaldo

United States President Donald Trump has stirred up the age-old football debate once again this time with a bold declaration.

During his surprise appearance at the final of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup held on Sunday, July 13, at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Trump proclaimed Pelé as the “greatest footballer of all time.”

Trump made the remarks during a live interview with DAZN after watching Chelsea dismantle Paris Saint-Germain 3–0 in a dominant display to clinch the tournament title.

While football legends like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Diego Maradona continue to dominate GOAT (Greatest of All Time) conversations, Trump brought it all back to the Brazilian who revolutionized the game in the 20th century.

“Many years ago, when I was young, they brought a player named Pelé to play here in America,” Trump said, referring to Pelé’s 1970s stint with the New York Cosmos.

“He was the inspiration we had. This place was packed. It was an earlier version of this stadium, but it was right here in the Meadowlands, and it was Pelé.”

The former president fondly recounted watching Pelé live in New Jersey during his youth and described the legendary striker as “fantastic” and “transformational.”

He added, “That’s like saying Babe Ruth. But I would say Pelé was so great so dominant he changed the game.”

Trump used the moment to position football as a new frontier for American influence. He suggested that the Club World Cup and the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host, could serve as symbols of national pride and resurgence.

“If I return to office, we’re going to show the world that America leads not just in business or military—but in culture and sports too,” Trump said.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will also be played at MetLife Stadium, marking the first time in history that the final of the world’s biggest sporting tournament will take place on American soil.

The event will coincide with the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, a milestone Trump is already framing as part of what he calls a coming “Golden Age of America.”

Trump’s Pelé tribute has since gone viral, reigniting debates on social media, with many praising his choice, while others stood firmly behind Messi or Ronaldo.

For Trump, though, the verdict is clear: “Pelé was the king of football and kings never fade.”

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