Neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo: Donald Trump names the greatest soccer player of all time
The US President presented 2025 FIFA Club World Cup winners Chelsea with the trophy following their victory over PSG in the final.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup wrapped up in New Jersey with a dominant performance by Chelsea, who defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final at MetLife Stadium. Cole Palmer netted twice, while João Pedro added a third to seal the win for the English club.
US President presents Chelsea with FIFA Club World Cup trophy
Among the VIPs on hand for the trophy presentation were FIFA president Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump, who took part in awarding medals and the championship trophy. Trump stayed on the field to celebrate with the Chelsea players as they lifted the cup.
Trump names greatest soccer player ever
During a live interview with DAZN at the stadium, Trump was asked to name the greatest soccer player of all time—and he didn’t hesitate.
“I’d probably go with a classic choice. It’s like saying Babe Ruth,” Trump said. “But I’d say Pelé was incredible.”
Trump reminisced about Pelé’s time in the United States, particularly his stint with the New York Cosmos of the now-defunct NASL, where the Brazilian legend played from 1975 until his retirement in 1977.
“A player called Pelé”
“Back when I was younger, they brought in a player named Pelé to play for the Cosmos,” Trump recalled. “This place was packed—an earlier version of this very stadium—and it was all because of Pelé. He was just fantastic.”
Trump’s comments struck a nostalgic chord, highlighting the impact Pelé had not only on global soccer, but on the sport’s growth in the U.S. during the 1970s.
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