'Soccer dad' Barack Obama compares himself to Lionel Messi

June 29, 2011 • • min read

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US President Barack Obama has compared himself to Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi and talked of how his daughters had converted him into a "soccer dad".

US president Barack Obama holds up a jersey given to him by the MLS champions Colorado Rapids

Photo: Getty Images

Obama's remark came during an event at the White House where the president paid homage to MLS champions Colorado Rapids on Monday.

The world's most powerful man was presented with a Rapids jersey, sporting the name "OBAMA" above the number 10, by Rapids managing director Jeff Plush.

When told that the number 10 shirt was normally reserved for a team's leader, Obama joked: "That is me and Messi. We're right up there."

Obama then explained that being the father of footie-mad kids, Malia and Sasha, had made him a "soccer dad" who is "used to watching everyone crowd round the ball, then it kind of pops out somewhere and everyone runs over to it."

The 49-year-old isn't the first US president to declare a love of the sport.

Bill Clinton admitted being a Chelsea fan, having gone to see them in the 60s while studying at Oxford University.

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