Washington: Outgoing President Joe Biden has awarded the US' highest civilian honour to 19 individuals, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, football icon Lionel Messi, philanthropist George Soros, and actor Denzel Washington, in recognition of their contributions to America and the world, reported PTI.

“For the final time as President, I have the honour of bestowing the Medal of Freedom on our nation's highest civilian honour on a group of extraordinary, truly extraordinary people who gave their sacred effort, their sacred effort, to shape the culture and the cause of America,” Biden said at the function in the East Room of the White House.

“This group of people leave an incredible mark on our country with insight and influence that can be felt around the globe in major cities and remote areas of life, finding us closer as people and showing us that what's possible as a nation, nothing beyond our capacity,” Biden added.

“As cultural icons, … humanitarians, rock stars, sports stars, you feed the hungry, you give hope to those who are hurting, and you craft the signs and sounds of our movements and our memories. It's amazing...you inspire, and you bring healing and joy to so many lives that otherwise wouldn't be touched," the President said.

"You answer the call to serve and lead others to do the same thing. You defend the values of America even when they're under attack, which they have been,” Biden said, after which he presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Fannie Lou Hamer, who transformed the struggle for racial justice in America; Ashton Carter, who served as the 25th Secretary of Defence; Robert Francis Kennedy, remembered as an Attorney General who fiercely combatted racial segregation; and George W Romney, a businessman who served as the chairman and president of American Motors Corporation, was awarded posthumously. The medals were received by their family members.

Former President Bill Clinton, several Cabinet members, including Defence Secretary Loyd Austin, and several celebrities attended the awards ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Saturday afternoon.