Argentina football legend, Lionel Messi, has revealed that he is uncertain about continuing his football career for much longer following the death of his father, Jorge Messi.
Jorge, 68, died last week after a prolonged illness.
He had served as Messi’s agent since the Argentina captain was 14 and played a major role in his son’s journey to becoming one of football’s greatest players.
Messi, 39, shared an emotional tribute to his father on social media, expressing his difficulty coming to terms with the loss and questioning whether he would continue playing football.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you,” Messi, 39, wrote on social media.
“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 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 captained Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and led the team to the 2026 World Cup final in July, where they lost 1-0 to Spain.
He subsequently returned to his club side, Inter Miami, but travelled back to Argentina with his family following his father’s death.
Jorge died in a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, after a long illness.
A private funeral was held on Sunday at a cemetery in Perez, on the outskirts of Rosario.
Jorge had been closely involved in Messi’s career from its early stages, serving as his agent from the age of 14 and witnessing his transformation into a global football icon.
Messi’s latest comments have raised uncertainty over whether the 2026 World Cup campaign could mark the closing chapter of his illustrious playing career.
