Written by 
Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images
Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson and international soccer star Lionel Messi are among 19 people being honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden.
The White House issued a statement on Saturday announcing the recipients of the award (h/t NPR’s Franco Ordoñez).
“These nineteen Americans are great leaders who have made America a better place,” the White House statement said. “They are great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world,” the White House said in a statement.”
All 19 honorees will be awarded their medal during a ceremony on Saturday.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award in the United States.
Per the White House archive, individuals selected to receive the honor “have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
Honorees are chosen either directly by the President of the United States or are recommended to the President.
A total of 652 people have received the Presidential Medal of Freedom since it was established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy.
Former Yale and United States Olympic team swimming coach Robert J.H. Kiphuth was the first person from the sports world to receive the award in 1963.
Other notable athletes and coaches who have been bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom include Jesse Owens (1976), Jackie Robinson (1984), Muhammad Ali (2005), Billie Jean King (2009), Michael Jordan (2016), Tiger Woods (2019) and Simone Biles (2022).
Messi is one of the most accomplished soccer players in history. He is the only eight-time recipient of the Ballon d’Or and led Argentina to a victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. His teams have won a total of 45 trophies, highlighted by 12 Big Five league titles.
Johnson’s accomplishments include five NBA championships, three NBA MVP awards and an Olympic gold medal with USA Basketball in 1992. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and College Basketball Hall of Fame.
Along with his professional accolades, Johnson has been an activist for HIV since he publicly announced he was diagnosed with the virus in 1991.