U.S. President Joe Biden awarded the Medal of Freedom to Lionel Messi.

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On January 20, U.S. President Joe Biden, who will hand over his duties to Donald Trump during the inauguration ceremony, awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 individuals from the worlds of politics, art, sports, and science.

BIDEN AWARDS FREEDOM MEDAL TO MESSI

Among those awarded the Freedom Medal at the ceremony were names from the sports world. Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who is considered a basketball legend and conducts charitable activities through his Magic Foundation, as well as Lionel Messi, one of the best football players in the history of world football and currently playing for Inter Miami in the prestigious MLS league in the U.S., also received this award. The Argentine star, who is one of the players with the most trophies and awards, was deemed worthy of this honor for supporting health and education programs for children through the Leo Messi Foundation.

OTHER NOTABLE RECIPIENTS OF THE MEDAL

Businessman and investor George Soros, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, Anna Wintour, who has been the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine since 1988, chef Jose Andres, founder of the humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen, and scientist Jane Goodall, known for her work on chimpanzees, were also awarded the Freedom Medal by Biden.

WHO RECEIVES THE FREEDOM MEDAL?

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who have made contributions that exemplify the ideals of the United States, its prosperity, values, or security, world peace, or other significant societal, public, or private efforts.

Among those deemed worthy of the Freedom Medal are former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from the political world and former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968.

Famous rock band U2's lead singer Bono, award-winning director and actor Denzel Washington, who has received numerous awards including an Oscar, and award-winning actor Michael J. Fox, who supports research on Parkinson's disease and is himself battling the illness, are among those from the music and cinema world who have been awarded the Freedom Medal.