United States president Donald Trump claimed he ‘had a little bit more speed’ than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo while recalling his time playing football.Trump was present at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Friday, December 5. As he walked the red carpet alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Trump delivered one of the most amazing moments of the night.In a short interview with Futbol RCN and Noticias RCN, Donald Trump revealed that he once played football but admitted he wasn’t at the level of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.When asked if he ever played football, Trump responded:“Believe it or not, I did (play football), and I loved it. I was OK, I wouldn't say I was Ronaldo or Messi. I was a little bit short of them (...) had a little bit more speed, but I was fine. I loved playing football.”Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two players that are usually used as a benchmark of greatness in football, thanks to their longevity and achievements. Together, they hold the record for the most Ballon d'Or awards, having shared it 13 times.Both are expected to feature in next year’s World Cup set to take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. While Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his last, Messi has yet to decide if he will lead Argentina to retain the trophy.Donald Trump expresses admiration for Lionel Messi and Cristiano RonaldoIn another interview during the red carpet of the 2026 World Cup draw, Donald Trump referred to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as ‘great.’ While speaking with DSPORTS, the United States president was asked about Messi, to which he replied:“Messi is great, and Ronaldo is also.”He then recalled his recent meeting with Ronaldo at the White House. The Portuguese superstar was part of a Saudi delegation led by the Saudi Crown Prince that attended a White House dinner on Tuesday, November 18.“I met with him at the White House and he was fantastic. We talked about football—what's football depending on your definition. He was here and he's fantastic,” Trump added.While Trump has repeatedly expressed his admiration for Messi and Ronaldo, he ignored both players when asked to choose the greatest footballer of all time (GOAT). Trump named late Brazilian legend Pele as his football GOAT, drawing from personal nostalgia to make his choice.