Lionel Messi has revealed he is uncertain about how much longer he will continue his football career after the death of his father, Jorge, last week. Jorge Messi died at the age of 68 at a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina, following a prolonged illness.
In an emotional tribute posted on social media, the 39-year-old Inter Miami forward and Argentina captain reflected on the profound influence his father had on both his career and personal life. "I don't know what I'm going to do without you. I don't know how to move forward. I only played football and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I'm going to keep doing it for much longer," Messi wrote.
Jorge Messi was far more than a supportive parent — he served as his son's agent from the time Lionel was just 14 years old, guiding him through the formative years at Barcelona and remaining a constant presence throughout his rise to become one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. In his message, Messi expressed the pain of losing his father just as the end of his own journey seemed to be approaching. "You were by my side from the beginning; there was so little left until the end. Why couldn't you hold on just a little longer so we could finish it together?" he wrote.
A private funeral for Jorge was held on Sunday at a cemetery in Perez, a town on the outskirts of Rosario, where the family is originally from.
Messi also opened up about how his father's wishes influenced his decision to compete in what may have been his final World Cup, where Argentina reached the final before losing to Spain in extra time. According to Messi, Jorge had long urged him to play in the tournament, and his father's health began to decline just before it got underway. "You always asked me to play in the last World Cup and a few days before it started was when you got worse," Messi said. He described anxiously awaiting messages from his father after every match, a routine that made the gravity of Jorge's illness increasingly clear.
The tournament brought a mix of emotions for Messi, including tears during the celebration of his first goal in Argentina's opening match against Algeria, part of a hat-trick performance. He later clarified that his emotional reaction stemmed from personal struggles unrelated to the game itself, describing the buildup as a period of difficult and complicated days.
Messi admitted that although he had hoped to win the tournament in his father's honor, he simply did not have the physical reserves left to deliver another title after Argentina's extra-time defeat to Spain in the final. "My legs couldn't go on anymore. This time I tried to push myself beyond my physical limits, but I couldn't. I never felt well … We weren't champions, but you don't know how much we enjoyed every match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play it," he said.
Despite the sorrow of losing his father, Messi vowed to carry forward the values Jorge instilled in him, particularly through raising his own children. "I'm going to miss you so much, but you will always be present, especially in the upbringing of my children, because I will teach them and raise them the way you raised me," he said.
Messi's comments have sparked widespread speculation about his long-term future in the sport, though no formal decision regarding retirement has been announced.
Based on reporting from The Guardian and BBC Sport.