Magic Johnson, Lionel Messi receive Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden WSOC TV [Video]

On Saturday, President Joe Biden honored a number of important figures with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. Included in those were two notable athletes, with former NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson and international soccer star Lionel Messi among the honorees.

In a biography read during the ceremony, the White House cited Johnson’s success as a basketball player — citing his accolades as a MVP-winner, Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Famer — as well as his business empire, his philanthrophy with underserved communities and his groundbreaking advocacy around HIV/AIDS.

“With unmatched vision and versatility, Earvin “Magic” Johnson drove the “Showtime” era for the Los Angeles Lakers … Under the same bright lights, his honesty about his HIV status shattered stigma and saved lives,” the bio read, leading to an applause from the audience. “With a legendary will and smile, Magic Johnson rose …