Lionel Messi with his Father Jorge via Instagram.
Messi mourns father: "My legs couldn’t go any further"
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Messi doubts his furure career.
- Jorge Messi dies at 68 after illness.
- Messi says he played 2026 World Cup for him.
- Argentina captain honors father in emotional farewell.
Soccer icon Lionel Messi published a poignant farewell letter to his father and agent, Jorge Messi, who died Saturday at age 68, revealing the deep personal strain he experienced during the 2026 World Cup and admitting uncertainty about his future on the pitch.
Following his father's passing, the 39-year-old Inter Miami star traveled to his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, over the weekend for the wake. Taking to Instagram, Messi reflected on his loss and the emotional weight of moving forward without his long-time guide.
"Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone. It hasn’t sunk in, or rather, I don’t want it to sink in," Messi wrote. "I don’t know what I’m going to do without you, I don’t know how to go on. I only played football and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I’ll keep doing it for much longer."
Struggles during 2026 World Cup
Messi opened up about the emotional hardship of competing in the 2026 World Cup in the United States while his father remained in declining health, unable to travel.
"You kept asking me to play in the last World Cup and just days before it started was when you got worse," Messi shared. "It was the first time you weren’t going to be at a tournament, but mom told me you were going to get better and that you’d be well enough to travel. I told you we’d make it to the final so you could come."
Messi recounted missing his father's customary post-match messages, which signaled to him the gravity of the health condition. Pushing through to the final, where Spain defeated Argentina for its second World Cup title, Messi noted the physical toll the emotional strain had taken.
"I wanted to win it to bring [the trophy] to you and show you a new one," Messi wrote. "I couldn’t, my legs couldn’t go any further. This time I tried to go against my body, but I couldn’t. I never managed to feel well."
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Bond beyond pitch
Reflecting on their unique dynamic, Messi described his father as a constant pillar throughout his childhood and professional career.
"You were a father, friend, and agent," Messi said. "You were always the person you needed to be at every moment and you never made a mistake... I’m going to miss you a lot, but you’ll always be present, and especially in the way I raise my children because I teach and raise them as you did with me."
The post drew widespread condolences from figures across the sporting world, including longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who commented: "A huge hug for you and yours in these hard moments, Leo. A lot of strength to you." Other major sports figures, including Neymar, Luka Modrić, and Carlos Alcaraz, also shared messages of support.
In a follow-up post, the Argentina captain expressed gratitude for the widespread support shown to his family, thanking well-wishers for "every message, every gesture, and above all, for respecting our pain and our privacy."
