AFCON 2025
Lionel Messi has revealed that he is seriously questioning his future in football following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, saying he does not know how to continue without the man who had been by his side throughout his career.
In an emotional tribute to his late father, Messi reflected on their lifelong connection through football and the role Jorge played from his earliest days in the sport.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know how to carry on,” Messi wrote.
“I only played football, and now I have serious doubts about whether I’ll continue doing it for much longer.”
Jorge was a constant presence throughout Messi’s childhood and professional career. The Argentine recalled how his father would take him to training after work whenever possible, while his mother also helped when he was unavailable.
“You took me to every training session as soon as you came home from work. Mum took me to many of them because you were working,” Messi said.
“Obviously, you never missed a single match.”
Messi described his father not only as a parent but also as a friend and representative who guided him through different stages of his football career.
“You were a father, a friend and my representative. You were always the person you needed to be in every moment,” he said.
The Barcelona and Argentina legend also recalled his father’s encouragement during the last World Cup, revealing that Jorge had repeatedly urged him to play despite his worsening condition.
“You kept asking me to play in the last World Cup, and just days before it started, that was when your condition got worse,” Messi recalled.
Messi said it was the first major tournament his father would not attend. He had hoped Jorge would recover and eventually travel to watch him.
“I told you that we were going to reach the final so that you could travel and watch me,” he said.
However, Messi began to realise how serious his father’s condition had become when Jorge stopped sending him messages after matches.
“Every time a match ended, I would wait for and miss your message. That was when I realised that things were really bad,” Messi said.
Argentina eventually reached the final, but Messi said he was physically struggling during the tournament and could not deliver the trophy he had hoped to show his father.
“We reached the final, but you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it so I could take the trophy to you and show you a new one. I couldn’t,” he said.
Despite the disappointment, Messi said his father had been right to encourage him to continue playing.
“We didn’t become champions, but you don’t know how much we enjoyed every match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play it,” he said.
The loss has left Messi struggling to come to terms with the reality that he will no longer be able to speak with or see his father.
“Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone. I can’t process it, or rather, I don’t want to,” Messi said.
“It’s so difficult for me to imagine that I’ll never see you again, that we’ll never talk again.”
Messi also questioned why his father could not have stayed a little longer so they could enjoy more moments together.
“Why couldn’t you hold on just a little longer so we could finish this journey together?” he wrote.
The Argentine star said Jorge’s influence would live on through the way he raises his own children, promising to pass on the values and lessons he received from his parents.
“I’m going to miss you so much, but you will always be present, especially in the way I raise my children, because I will teach and raise them the way you and Mum raised me,” he said.
Messi ended his tribute with a final message of love and gratitude to the man who had been beside him from the beginning.
“Rest in peace, and watch over us from above as you did when you were here. Thank you for everything,” he wrote.
“I love you, Dad.”
