Lionel Messi is grieving in the most public way possible, and it’s clear the loss has shaken even his resolve to keep playing football. On Wednesday, the Argentine icon posted an emotional tribute to his late father, Jorge, who passed away in Rosario at 68 after a long illness that worsened right before the 2026 World Cup.
Messi’s Father Death Leaves Him Questioning His Future
In his heartfelt message, Messi confessed he isn’t sure how he’ll move forward without the man who guided nearly every step of his career, serving as his agent and business manager throughout his rise to stardom. As translated by The Athletic, Messi shared that football has always been his entire world, and now he genuinely wonders whether he’ll carry on doing it for much longer. NBC News
Jorge Messi, once a factory supervisor in Rosario, stood by his son from the very beginning. Messi expressed deep sorrow that his father couldn’t hold on just a little longer so they could reach the end of his career together.
The timing makes the loss even harder to process. Messi had just wrapped up a remarkable World Cup run, nearly guiding Argentina to back-to-back titles before falling 1-0 to Spain in extra time. He also finished just short of the Golden Boot, which went to France’s Kylian Mbappé. Still, Messi remains second all-time in World Cup goals with 21, cementing his legacy alongside Argentina’s 2022 triumph.
A Career Defined by Devotion, Now Clouded by Grief
Messi explained that his father had specifically asked him to compete in this year’s tournament, even as his health declined. According to Messi, he kept pushing forward in hopes of giving his father something to watch, eventually reaching the final. However, his body couldn’t carry him any further once it mattered most.
By the time Messi returned home, his father believed the team had lost on penalties, unaware of the actual outcome. Despite the disappointment of falling short, Messi emphasized how much joy the run brought the entire squad.
Messi, 39, continues his club career with Inter Miami, where he’s played since 2023 and led the team to an MLS Cup title last season. He returned to MLS action on August 1 after skipping the league’s All-Star Game following the World Cup final. Now, as he processes this profound loss, questions about how much longer he’ll continue playing hang heavier than ever before.
