Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Lionel Messi will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a ceremony at the White House on Saturday.

President Joe Biden will bestow the honor on 19 of the most celebrated names in politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy and academia.

The White House said the recipients have made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values ​​or security of the United States, to world peace, or to other significant societal, public or private endeavors.”

The 65-year-old Johnson, often considered the greatest point guard of all time, was a five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers before abruptly retiring in 1991 after revealing that he had contracted HIV . He was honored as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996 and was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. A two-time inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, he was inducted in 2002 for his individual career and honors in 2010 as a member of the Dream Team.

Since his retirement, Johnson has been committed to HIV/AIDS prevention. His philanthropic work also supports underserved communities through his Magic Johnson Foundation.

Following his playing career, Johnson joined the ownership groups of the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Sparks, Los Angeles FC of the MLS and the Washington Spirit of the NWSL.

The 37-year-old Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time and has set numerous individual records with eight Ballon d’Or awards and eight awards as the best FIFA player in the world. He is the most decorated player in professional football history and has won 45 team trophies, including four UEFA Champions Leagues, two Copa Americas and a FIFA World Cup.

In his first full season with Inter Miami in the MLS, Messi was named the 2024 league MVP after scoring 20 goals and contributing 16 assists in 19 games as his club set a league record with a season-high 74 points.

Messi supports health and education programs for children around the world through the Leo Messi Foundation and serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.