Lionel Messi has revealed uncertainty over how much longer he will continue playing football following the death of his father, Jorge, who passed away last week at the age of 68 after a lengthy illness.
Jorge Messi was far more than a parent to the Argentine superstar—he had served as his agent since Messi was just 14 years old, guiding him through a career that many consider the greatest in the history of the sport. His influence on Messi's rise from a young prospect to an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was profound and lasting.
In a deeply personal tribute posted on Instagram, Messi expressed the depth of his grief and openly questioned his future in the game. "I don't know what I'm going to do without you," he 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."
The 39-year-old forward went on to reflect on the timing of his father's passing, writing, "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?"
Messi's words carry particular weight given the trajectory of his career in recent years. He led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, a crowning achievement that many believed would be the perfect conclusion to his international journey. However, La Albiceleste fell short of repeating that success this year, losing in extra time to Spain in the final. That defeat had already fueled speculation about the end of Messi's time with the national team, a sentiment reinforced by an emotional, tear-filled press conference from Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni after the final whistle.
At club level, Messi's situation appeared more settled. He signed a contract extension with Inter Miami last autumn, committing to the MLS franchise through 2028. Yet his father's death now introduces fresh uncertainty into a career that once seemed destined to continue for several more years on the pitch.
Following Jorge Messi's passing at a hospital in the family's hometown of Rosario, Argentina, Lionel Messi returned home to be with his loved ones during this difficult period. As a result, he was absent for Inter Miami's loss to Monterrey. His teammates honored him during that match by wearing black armbands, while midfielder Rodrigo De Paul dedicated his goal celebration to Messi and his father.
A private funeral service for Jorge Messi was held on Sunday at a cemetery in Perez, a town on the outskirts of Rosario, attended by close family and friends.
In the continuation of his tribute, Messi conveyed the raw disbelief and sorrow he is experiencing. "Dad, I still can't believe you're gone. It hasn't sunk in, or rather, I don't want it to," he wrote. "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."
As Messi processes this profound personal loss, the football world watches closely to see how it may shape the final chapter of his illustrious career. Whether he chooses to continue playing for Inter Miami or steps away from the sport altogether remains an open question, one that only time—and Messi himself—can answer.
Based on reporting from The Independent.