Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has reached out to Lionel Messi with a supportive message after Messi’s father, Jorge, passed away.
On Wednesday, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano shared on X that Ronaldo wrote: “Huge hug to you and your loved ones in this difficult moment, Leo. Stay strong.”
Jorge Messi died at 68 following a cancer battle. He was a huge part of his son’s life, acting as his agent and emotional support from the start. The news arrived days after Messi said goodbye to his father.
In a Wednesday social media post, the 39-year-old Inter Miami player opened up about his grief. He admitted he now has “serious doubts” about playing football much longer.
“I don’t know what I’ll do without you, I don’t know how to go on. I just played football, and now I have serious doubts about continuing to do so for much longer,” Messi wrote.
He also talked about his father’s health failing just before the 2026 World Cup. Messi had hoped Jorge could travel to see the final, but he could not make it. Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in New Jersey, with Messi netting eight goals in the tournament. He returned to the U.S. on Tuesday night after a private funeral on Sunday in Perez, near Rosario, with family and some Argentina teammates.
Messi called his dad “a father, a friend, and an agent” who “never put a foot wrong.” Back in 2000, Jorge left everything in Argentina to join 13-year-old Lionel in Barcelona for growth treatment and to guide his early career.
The two football greats have a long on-field rivalry, but Ronaldo’s gesture is seen as another sign of their mutual respect.
