Rita Odafe
On Saturday, President Joe Biden presented the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom to Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi, as well as renowned actors Denzel Washington and Michael J. Fox.
The ceremony, which took place at the White House, also honored several distinguished individuals, including Hillary Clinton, singer Bono, designer Ralph Lauren, chef Jose Andres, basketball icon Earvin “Magic” Johnson, financier George Soros, and scientist Bill Nye.
This esteemed award, recognized as the highest civilian honor in the U.S., was also given to Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, LGBT rights advocate Tim Gill, philanthropist David Rubenstein, and writer George Stevens Jr.
In addition, several awards were given posthumously to notable figures, such as civil rights champion Fannie Lou Hamer, former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, former Attorney General and U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy (brother of President John F. Kennedy), and businessman George Romney, a past Governor of Michigan and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Notably, Lionel Messi could not attend the ceremony due to a scheduling conflict, as announced by White House officials.
