President Barack Obama singled out Robbie Rogers for "blazing a trail" for gay athletes as the LA Galaxy were honored as MLS champions at the White House on Monday.
Rogers became the first openly gay professional athlete to play in a major American sport when he joined the Galaxy in 2013, and the President said he was proud of the 27-year-old.
"I want to recognize what Robbie Rogers of the Galaxy has done for a lot of people by blazing a trail as one of professional sports' first openly gay players," Obama said. "My guess is that as an athlete Robbie wants to win first and foremost, that's what competition is all about.
"But Robbie, you've also inspired a whole lot of folks here and around the world, and we are very proud of you."
Rogers said it meant a lot that the President took the time to touch on a subject important to him and the gay community.
"I was really surprised, actually, and pleasantly surprised," Rogers told reporters. "Just for him to mention where I've come from is special for me.
"There is a long way to go for the LGBT community. It's slowly getting there. It's changing. Slowly, it's changing."
Obama honored the Galaxy and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings in a joint ceremony, and said while he may be resentful as a Chicago sports fan, he had to give credit to Los Angeles' "embarrassment of riches" in producing two championship teams.
The White House visit was the Galaxy's third in four years, equaling them with the San Francisco Giants for the most visits during Obama's administration.
"You never get bored of coming here because you're here because you won the championship and you never get bored of winning things," forward Robbie Keane said. "I hope that we'll be here again next year."