Messi unsure he will play ‘much longer’ after father’s death

Lionel Messi has expressed his uncertainty about continuing his football career after the death of his father, Jorge, who died last week at the age of 68. Jorge had been Messi's agent since he was 14 and played a significant role in the Argentine forward's career, watching him become one of the greatest players of all time. In a heartfelt social media post, Messi wrote, "I don't know what I'm going to do without you," and admitted he was unsure if he would continue playing football much longer.

He credited his father for being by his side from the beginning, stating, "You were my dad, my friend, and my mentor." Messi, who recently captained Argentina to a World Cup victory in 2022 and to the 2026 World Cup final, returned home to his family after his father's passing. The emotional tribute was shared just days after the World Cup, where Messi scored a goal in Argentina's 3-0 win against Algeria.

His family had previously mentioned that Jorge was dealing with a "health-related situation." Messi's father had accompanied him on his journey to success, playing a crucial role in his development, and scoring 672 goals in 778 games for Barcelona. Messi's emotional tribute also touched upon the future, as he expressed his desire to win the next World Cup so his father could attend the final.