Lionel Messi has revealed he is unsure how much longer he will continue his professional football career following the death of his father, Jorge. The 39-year-old Argentina captain shared an emotional tribute to his father, who passed away last week at the age of 68 after a long illness.
Jorge Messi had been a constant presence in his son’s career, serving as his agent since Lionel was 14 years old and witnessing his rise to become one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Following his father’s death in a hospital in their hometown of Rosario, Argentina, a private funeral was held on Sunday at a cemetery in the nearby town of Perez.
In a heartfelt social media post, the Inter Miami star expressed his deep grief, writing, “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. 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.”
Reflecting on their close bond, Messi added, “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 recently returned home to be with his family during this period of mourning. His professional commitments have been significant, having led Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final in July, where the team suffered a 1-0 defeat against Spain.
The forward, who previously captained his nation to World Cup glory in 2022, has been balancing his international duties with his club career at Inter Miami. His recent performance included a notable tactical influence during the tournament, as highlighted in reports regarding his impact on the pitch.
The loss of his father marks a difficult time for the football icon, who has been grappling with both the recent disappointment of the World Cup final and the immense personal pain of losing the man who guided his career from his teenage years.
Messi’s father Jorge dies aged 68 after illness Published 3 days ago
