Messi unsure he will play ‘much longer’ after father’s death
Messi Questions Future After Father Jorge's Passing
Ninoda.com – Lionel Messi has expressed uncertainty about continuing his football career following the death of his father, Jorge Messi. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner shared a heartfelt message on social media after losing his dad, who was 68 years old when he passed away last week after battling a prolonged illness.
Jorge Messi had served as his son's agent since Lionel was just 14 years old, witnessing the transformation of a young talent into one of the greatest players in football history.
An Emotional Farewell
"I don't know what I'm going to do without you," Messi wrote. "I don't know how to carry on. I used to just play football, and now I'm really not sure if I'll carry on doing it for much longer."
"You were by my side from the very beginning. We were so close to the end. Why didn't you hang in there just a little longer so we could finish this together?"
Messi captained Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and later led his nation to the 2026 final, where they fell 1-0 to Spain. Following that tournament, he returned to his club, Inter Miami.
After Jorge's passing in a hospital in their hometown of Rosario, Messi went home with his family. A private funeral service was held on Sunday at a cemetery in Perez, located on the outskirts of Rosario.
"Dad, I still can't believe you're gone," Messi continued. "It hasn't sunk in, or rather, I don't want it to. It's so hard for me to imagine that I'll never see you again, that we'll never talk again. I know you were suffering and that this is for the best, but you left too soon. We still had so much left to enjoy together."
World Cup Memories and Jorge's Illness
During the World Cup tournament, Messi was moved to tears after scoring the opening goal in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria. He later explained that the emotion was "completely unrelated to football." His family subsequently released a statement confirming that Jorge was managing a "health-related situation."
"You kept asking me to play in one last World Cup, and just days before it started, that's when you took a turn for the worse," Messi recalled. "It was the first time you weren't going to be at a tournament, but Mom kept telling me you'd get better and that you'd be well enough to travel. I kept telling you that we were going to make it to the final so you could come along."
"Every time a game ended, I'd wait for and miss your message. That's when I realised how bad the situation was. Even so, I couldn't stop thinking about going as far as possible, to give you time to watch a game. We made it to the final, and you couldn't be there."
"I wanted to win it so I could bring the trophy to you and show you a new one. I couldn't, my legs had nothing left. This time I tried to push past my physical limits, but I couldn't. I never managed to feel right."
A Career of Achievements
The 2026 tournament marked Messi's sixth World Cup appearance. He featured in eight matches, netting eight goals and providing four assists throughout the competition.
Jorge Messi's funeral ceremony took place on Sunday in Perez, Argentina. The family moved to Spain in February 2001 after Barcelona signed Messi at the age of 13. While his mother and three siblings eventually returned to Rosario, Jorge remained with his son.
During his time at Barcelona, Messi established a record by scoring 672 goals across 778 matches. He helped the club secure four Champions League titles and claimed the La Liga championship on ten separate occasions.
Messi signed with Paris St-Germain in August 2021 before joining Inter Miami in July 2023. His current contract with the Major League Soccer franchise extends through 2028.
On the international stage, Messi has accumulated 125 goals in 207 caps for Argentina, along with 46 assists.
Final Words to His Father
"Of course, you never missed a single game," said Messi. "How you suffered watching me play and how much you enjoyed it, even though you never gave me much praise. You were my dad, my friend and my mentor. You were always exactly the person you needed to be in every moment, and you were never wrong about anything."
"Despite a few disagreements or arguments, you were always right. In the end, things always turned out just as you said they would. I'm going to miss you so much, but you'll always be with me, especially in raising my children, because I teach and raise them just as you both did with me. Rest in peace, and watch over us from above just as you did here. Thank you for everything. I love you, Dad."
Following Messi's touching tribute, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo sent a message of support to his fellow forward. "A huge hug to you and yours in these hard times, Leo. Much strength," Ronaldo wrote.
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