Messi: ‘Not Sure I’ll Play Much Longer’ After Dad’s Death

The Heartbreaking News

Important Point: Lionel Messi, 1 of the top shot players ever, precocious mislaid his father, Jorge Messi. This has near him unsure if helium volition proceed playing football.

Last week, Messi’s begetter Jorge passed distant astatine property 68 aft a agelong illness. He died successful a infirmary successful Rosario, Argentina – the metropolis wherever Lionel was born. A backstage ceremonial took spot connected Sunday astatine a cemetery successful Perez, a municipality conscionable extracurricular Rosario.

A Father and Son’s Special Bond

Jorge wasn’t conscionable Messi’s dada – helium was besides his agent (business manager) since Lionel was lone 14 years old. That means:

• Jorge handled each of Messi’s contracts and concern deals
• He watched his lad turn from a young lad into an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner (the grant for the world’s champion player)
• They were incredibly close, moving unneurotic for implicit 20 years

Messi’s Emotional Tribute

Messi shared a heartbreaking connection connected societal media aft his father’s death. Here are the cardinal things helium said:

"I don’t cognize what I’m going to bash without you… I don’t cognize however to transportation on. I utilized to conscionable play football, and present I’m truly not definite if I’ll transportation connected doing it for overmuch longer."

Other affectional parts of his message:

• "You were by my broadside from the precise beginning. We were truthful adjacent to the end."
• "Why didn’t you bent successful determination conscionable a small longer truthful we could decorativeness this together?"
• "It’s truthful hard for maine to ideate that I’ll ne'er spot you again, that we’ll ne'er speech again."
• "I cognize you were suffering and that this is for the best, but you near excessively soon. We inactive had truthful overmuch near to bask together."

The 2026 World Cup Journey

Messi’s past tourney with his begetter inactive live was the 2026 World Cup. Here’s what happened:

The Tournament Performance

1. Messi captained Argentina successful his sixth World Cup appearance
2. He played 8 games, scored 8 goals, and made 4 assists (helped teammates score)
3. Argentina reached the final but mislaid 1-0 to Spain

The Father-Son World Cup Dream

During the tournament, thing precise affectional happened:

• Before the World Cup: Jorge asked Messi to play successful "one past World Cup"
• Just earlier the tourney started: Jorge’s wellness took a abrupt crook for the worse
• During the tournament: Messi cried aft scoring against Algeria – but it wasn’t astir football. His household aboriginal confirmed Jorge was dealing with a "health-related situation"
• Messi’s hope: He kept telling his dada they would scope the last truthful Jorge could travel watch
• The achy reality: After each game, Messi waited for his dad’s connection – but it ne'er came. That’s erstwhile helium realized however superior it was
• The final: Argentina made it to the final, but Jorge couldn’t beryllium there. Messi wanted to triumph and bring the trophy to his father, but "my legs had thing left"

A Private Goodbye

After the World Cup ended and his begetter passed away:

• Messi returned location to Argentina with his family
• They held a private funeral connected Sunday successful Perez
• Only adjacent household and friends attended

What Comes Next for Messi?

Right now, Messi plays for Inter Miami successful the United States. But aft losing his begetter – his lifelong spouse and protagonist – helium has openly said helium doesn’t cognize if helium wants to support playing football.

Important Point: This isn’t conscionable astir a subordinate possibly retiring. It’s astir a lad grieving his father, champion friend, and concern spouse of 20+ years. Football has ever been "their thing" – and present that shared travel has ended.

Summary

• Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge, died astatine 68 aft a agelong illness
• Jorge was Messi’s cause since property 14 and his closest supporter
• Messi posted an affectional tribute saying helium doesn’t cognize if he’ll support playing football
• During the 2026 World Cup, Messi hoped his begetter would retrieve to ticker the final
• Argentina mislaid the last 1-0 to Spain, and Jorge ne'er got to spot it
• Messi scored 8 goals successful 8 games astatine what was his sixth World Cup
• A backstage funeral was held successful Perez, adjacent their hometown of Rosario
• Messi’s aboriginal successful shot is present uncertain arsenic helium grieves this monolithic loss

FAQ

Why was Messi’s begetter truthful important to his career?

Jorge Messi wasn’t conscionable a supportive dada – helium was Lionel’s agent from property 14. That means helium negotiated each his contracts, managed his concern affairs, and guided each large vocation determination for implicit 20 years. They were a squad successful each sense.

What did Messi mean erstwhile helium said "we were truthful adjacent to the end"?

Messi was referring to the 2026 World Cup – what they some thought would beryllium his last tournament. His begetter had asked him to play "one past World Cup," and they astir finished that travel unneurotic by reaching the final.

Why did Messi outcry during the World Cup lucifer against Algeria?

Messi scored the opening extremity successful a 3-0 triumph but was brought to tears. At the time, helium said it was for reasons "completely unrelated to football." His household aboriginal confirmed his begetter was dealing with a superior wellness concern that was worsening.

Has Messi officially retired from football?

No, not officially. He presently plays for Inter Miami successful the MLS. However, helium explicitly said: "I’m truly not definite if I’ll transportation connected doing it for overmuch longer." His grief implicit losing his begetter has made him question his aboriginal successful the sport.

Where was the ceremonial held?

The backstage ceremonial took spot on Sunday astatine a cemetery successful Perez, a municipality connected the outskirts of Rosario, Argentina – the metropolis wherever some Messi and his begetter were from.