NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre was among critics of Joe Biden's Presidential Medals of Freedom recipients over the weekend.
The outgoing Commander in Chief was scrutinized for his selections for the prestigious honor as he presented medals at the White House for his final time in office on Saturday.
Soccer star Lionel Messi and NBA legend 'Magic' Johnson were the only sports stars on the list, joining Hillary Clinton, former first lady, senator and secretary of state, and Democratic super-donor George Soros, among 15 other people.
And Favre, a former Super Bowl-winning quarterback with the Green Bay Packers, was among many who took aim at Biden for giving the awards to certain recipients.
“What words would you use to describe the White House medals that were awarded because I'm honestly speechless?” Favre, who has been a strong supporter of incoming President Donald Trump, wrote on X.
Biden's selection of Messi in particular had raised eyebrows within the online sports community.
Brett Favre criticized recipients of Joe Biden's Presidential Medals of Freedom
The former Super Bowl-winning quarterback questioned the picks over the weekend.
The Inter Miami star, who did not attend the ceremony, moved to the United States in the summer of 2023 in a successful move orchestrated by David Beckham. Since then he has played 39 times with the Major League Soccer team, without winning the MLS Cup so far.
The Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor in the United States and Biden's selection of the Argentine led many to accuse him of downplaying the award.
Messi reportedly skipped the glitzy ceremony due to scheduling conflicts.
Meanwhile, Biden's awarding of the medal to Clinton, President-elect Trump's rival in the White House in 2016, drew criticism due to her handling of the war in Libya, as well as her controversial private email server for government affairs.
Biden also gave the award to Soros, considered the bogeyman of Democratic super-donors, and restaurateur José Andrés, who backed out of a Trump hotel project over the Republican's anti-immigrant comments, sparking a years-long legal battle.
Soros earned the award, the White House said, because of his foundation's work to “strengthen democracy, human rights, education and social justice.”
Andrés received the distinction due to his charity World Central Kitchen's efforts to feed people in war zones and after natural disasters.
Unlike Messi, Johnson, a five-time NBA champion, collected his medal at the White House, where he was seen crouching down to allow Biden to place the medal around his neck.
Lionel Messi was named among those awarded but did not attend the ceremony
NBA legend Magic Johnson collected the prestigious honor at the White House on Saturday.
Biden drew criticism from some of the recipients, including Hillary Clinton, the former First Lady.
Johnson then shared a handshake and a laugh with the outgoing president. He also posed for photos with Hollywood legend Denzel Washington, who was also honored Saturday.
After the ceremony, Johnson released a statement detailing his pride in receiving the award.
'I feel very honored and overwhelmed with emotion right now. “It is an absolute honor and privilege that President Joe Biden has selected me for the esteemed Presidential Medal of Freedom,” he wrote on Instagram.
'Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that this little boy from Lansing, Michigan would one day grow up and receive one of the highest civilian awards in the United States.
“To be in the company of so many extraordinary people is both humbling and inspiring.”
Johnson thanked Biden for the award, which celebrated his success with the Lakers and his work off the court through the 'Magic Johnson Foundation.'