Lionel Messi is weighing up his footballing future following the passing of his father, Jorge, casting uncertainty over how much longer the Argentine great will continue playing. The 39-year-old, currently under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, delivered an emotional tribute to his late father that hinted strongly at the possibility of retirement.
"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," Messi said.
Across a career spanning Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and the Argentina national team, Messi has amassed an extraordinary 921 goals, cementing his status as one of the finest players the sport has ever produced. As speculation grows over what comes next, it is worth reflecting on the moments that defined his legacy.
Messi's rise to global recognition began with a Clasico hat-trick against Real Madrid in March 2007, when at just 19 he scored all three Barcelona goals in a thrilling 3-3 draw, including a dramatic late winner-that-wasn't. Weeks later, he produced arguably the finest individual goal of his career, dribbling from his own half past several Getafe defenders before rounding the goalkeeper in a Copa del Rey semi-final, drawing comparisons to Diego Maradona's famous 1986 World Cup goal against England.
His European pedigree was confirmed in the 2009 Champions League final, where he headed home against Manchester United to silence doubts about his ability to perform against English opposition. He would go on to become the competition's second-highest scorer of all time with 129 goals, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi's scoring exploits reached remarkable heights domestically. He broke Barcelona's all-time goalscoring record with a hat-trick against Granada in 2012, eventually finishing with 672 club goals by the time he departed in 2021. That same year, he set a jaw-dropping calendar-year record of 91 goals for club and country, a feat recognized by the Guinness Book of Records and rewarded with a then-unprecedented fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or. In 2014, he surpassed Telmo Zarra's long-standing La Liga scoring record with another hat-trick, this time against Sevilla.
Among his most celebrated moments was his 500th Barcelona goal, a stoppage-time winner against Real Madrid in April 2017, capped by his iconic shirt-off celebration in front of the Bernabeu crowd. Four years later, his Barcelona chapter ended in tears as financial constraints forced the club to let him leave on a free transfer. "My family and I were convinced we were going to stay here, at home," a visibly emotional Messi said at the time. "I don't want to leave this club — it's a club I love and this is a moment I didn't expect."
After joining PSG, Messi finally began collecting major international silverware with Argentina. He lifted his first Copa America title in 2021, was named the tournament's best player, and added a second Copa America crown three years later. The crowning achievement came at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Messi scored twice in a dramatic final against France, converted his penalty in the shootout, and was named the tournament's best player after netting seven goals overall.
Messi extended his record haul to eight Ballons d'Or, with his most recent triumph in 2023 following the World Cup win and a Leagues Cup title with Inter Miami. "I couldn't imagine having the career I've had and everything I've achieved," he said at the time. "All of them are special for different reasons."
Even at the 2026 World Cup, aged 39, Messi added to his legend, scoring eight goals to briefly become the tournament's all-time top scorer with 21, before Kylian Mbappe surpassed him. Argentina's run ended in final defeat to Spain, but Messi's individual brilliance once again captivated audiences on the world's biggest stage.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.