Lionel Messi says he is uncertain whether he will continue playing football “for much longer” following the death of his father, Jorge.
Jorge Messi, who was 68, died last week after a long illness. He had been his son’s agent since Lionel was 14 and remained alongside him as he developed into one of the greatest players in football history.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner shared an emotional tribute on social media, describing his father as a parent, friend and mentor.
“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 victory at the 2022 World Cup and led them to the final of the 2026 tournament. Argentina lost that match 1-0 to Spain before Messi returned to his club side, Inter Miami.
After Jorge died in a hospital in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, Messi returned home with his family. A private funeral was held on Sunday at a cemetery in Perez, a town on the outskirts of Rosario.
“Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone,” Messi said. “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.”
Messi’s father had been suffering from a health-related situation during the 2026 World Cup. The forward was seen crying after scoring Argentina’s opening goal in a 3-0 win over Algeria, but said the reason was “completely unrelated to football”. His family later confirmed Jorge was dealing with a “health-related situation”.
Messi said his father had repeatedly asked him to play at one more World Cup. Jorge’s condition worsened only days before the tournament began, although Messi said his mother continued to assure him that his father would recover and might still be able to travel.
“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 wrote.
“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.”
Messi said he missed receiving messages from his father after each match and gradually understood how serious the situation had become. He continued to pursue a place in the final so Jorge could watch him play, but Argentina were unable to win the trophy.
“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.”
Messi made his sixth World Cup appearance at the 2026 tournament, playing eight matches, scoring eight goals and providing four assists.
Ronaldo and Beckham send messages of support
Messi’s family moved to Spain in February 2001 after Barcelona signed him at the age of 13. His mother and three siblings later returned to Rosario, while Jorge stayed in Spain with his son.
Messi went on to score a record 672 goals in 778 games for Barcelona, helping the club win the Champions League four times and La Liga 10 times. He joined Paris Saint-Germain in August 2021 and moved to Inter Miami in July 2023. His contract with the Major League Soccer club runs until 2028.
For Argentina, Messi has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances and provided 46 assists.
“Of course, you never missed a single game,” Messi wrote. “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.”
Messi said his father’s influence would remain part of his life, particularly in the way he raises his own children.
“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,” he said.
“Rest in peace, and watch over us from above just as you did here. Thank you for everything.
“I love you, Dad.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal international, offered his condolences after the tribute was published.
“A huge hug to you and yours in these hard times, Leo. Much strength,” said the 41-year-old.
Inter Miami co-owner and former England international David Beckham also sent a message.
“We are with you and your family, Leo, always,” he said.
