Lionel Messi, the Argentina star who inspired his country to the 2022 World Cup, has admitted he has “serious doubts” about continuing his football career for “much longer” following the death of his father, Jorge Messi.
“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,” the 39-year-old wrote on social media after his father and agent died last week at 68.
Messi, whose Inter Miami contract runs until the end of the 2028 season, reflected on his father’s final months, which came during the 2026 World Cup.
“I kept telling you we would reach the final so you could make the trip,” Messi said. He returned to the United States on Tuesday after his father’s funeral on Sunday.
“We made it to the final, but you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it to bring it to you and show you a new one. I couldn’t, my legs just gave out.
“This time I tried to push past my physical limits, but I couldn’t. I never felt right,” Messi added in his first comments since Argentina’s 1–0 defeat to Spain in the final in New Jersey.
He also spoke about his father’s role in his life and career: “You were a father, a friend, and an agent. You were always exactly who you needed to be in every moment, and you never put a foot wrong.”
Jorge’s absence during the World Cup had drawn attention, while Messi’s family asked the media for “humanity” over rumours about his health.
Messi later admitted he was dealing with “a situation outside of sports”.
On Sunday, he said goodbye to his father at a private ceremony in Perez, near Rosario, attended by close family and a few Argentina teammates.
The cause of death was not revealed, though local media reported Jorge had cancer.
