Messi says not certain to play ‘much longer’ after father’s death

Lionel Messi, the Argentina football superstar and a key player in his country's 2022 World Cup triumph, has expressed serious doubts about his continued football career, according to a message posted on social media. The 39-year-old Argentine, whose contract with Major League Soccer side Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 season, mourned the sudden passing of his father, Jorge Messi, who was also his agent.

Jorge, 68, died last week, leaving his son grappling with emotional turmoil. "I don't know what I'll do without you, I don't know how to go on," Messi wrote, reflecting on the final months of his father's life which coincided with the 2026 World Cup. Messi recounted how he had promised his father they would reach the final so he could attend, but he couldn't due to the match's outcome.

His words reflected his physical struggle: "I pushed my body to the limit, but it wasn't enough. I never felt right." Messi paid tribute to his dad, describing him as a father, a friend, and an agent, adding, "You were exactly who you needed to be in every moment." Jorge Messi's absence from the World Cup in June had already drawn attention, and Messi's family had asked for privacy during the tournament amidst rumours over his father's health.

After scoring against Algeria, Messi had admitted to dealing with "a situation outside of sports." The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner honored his father during a private ceremony in Perez, Argentina, with close family and a few Argentina teammates. The cause of death was not disclosed but local media reported that Jorge Messi had been suffering from cancer.