Lionel Messi has admitted he is uncertain about how much longer he will continue playing football following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, last week.
Jorge, 68, passed away after a long illness. He had been Messi’s agent since the Argentina captain was 14 and played a major role throughout his son’s remarkable football career.
In an emotional tribute shared on social media, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said he was struggling to imagine life without his father and questioned whether he would continue his playing career for much longer.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know how to carry on,” Messi wrote, recalling how his father had been beside him from the beginning of his journey.
Messi returned to Argentina with his family following Jorge’s death at a hospital in Rosario. A private funeral was held on Sunday at a cemetery in Perez, on the outskirts of the city.
The football star said he was still struggling to accept his father’s death, adding that they had hoped to share more moments together.
Jorge’s health had also been a source of concern during the 2026 World Cup. Messi was visibly emotional after scoring in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria during the tournament, later revealing that his tears were linked to an issue unrelated to football. His family subsequently confirmed that Jorge had been dealing with health problems.
Messi said his father had repeatedly encouraged him to compete at one more World Cup and had hoped to watch him play during the tournament.
According to Messi, he continued pushing Argentina to advance through the competition while hoping his father would recover enough to attend a match. Argentina eventually reached the final but lost 1-0 to Spain.
Messi said he had wanted to win the World Cup so he could bring the trophy home and share the moment with his father, but admitted that he struggled physically during the final.
The 2026 tournament marked Messi’s sixth World Cup appearance. He played eight matches, scoring eight goals and providing four assists before returning to Inter Miami.
With his father’s death now adding an emotional dimension to his future, Messi’s latest comments have raised fresh questions over whether the football legend is approaching the final chapter of his playing career.
