Messi unsure about continuing to play "for a long time" after his father's death

Argentine star Lionel Messi said on Wednesday that he is unsure whether he will continue playing football “for a long time” anymore, in an emotional message addressed to his father and business agent, Jorge Messi, who passed away last Saturday.

The 39-year-old Messi wrote in the message, published on his Instagram account: “I don’t know what I’ll do without you, and I don’t know how I’ll go on. I’ve only ever played football, and now I have many doubts about whether I’ll continue playing for much longer.”

In his message, Messi reflected on the last months of his father’s life, which coincided with the 2026 World Cup.

The Inter Miami player, who returned to the United States on Tuesday evening after attending his father’s funeral on Sunday, said: “I kept telling you that we would reach the final so you could travel and be there.”

He added: “We reached the final, but you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it (the title) to dedicate it to you and show you a new trophy. I couldn’t do that; my legs failed me. This time I tried to push beyond my physical limits, but I couldn’t. I never felt okay,” in his first comments since the 1-0 loss to Spain in the final held in New Jersey.

Messi highlighted the pivotal role his father played in his life and career, saying, “He was a father, a friend, and an agent. He was always the person I needed in every moment, and he never made a mistake.”

Jorge Messi’s unusual absence from the World Cup in June had already drawn attention.

The Messi family had asked the media to show “humanity” during the tournament, amid ongoing rumors about Jorge’s health condition.

After crying following his goal against Algeria, Messi had admitted that he was dealing with a “situation outside the realm of sport.”

On Sunday, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner bid farewell to his father during a private ceremony attended by close family members and a few of his Argentina national team teammates, in the city of Berisso, adjacent to Rosario.

The cause of death was not disclosed, but local media reported that Jorge Messi had been suffering from cancer.