Lionel Messi is mourning the loss of his father, Jorge Messi. He says the heartbreaking tragedy has left him questioning whether he wants to continue playing soccer. In an emotional social media tribute, the Argentina team captain reflected on their lifelong bond. He admitted he no longer knows how to move forward without the man who guided both his life and career.
Lionel Messi opens up about losing father Jorge Messi and facing life without him
Messi shared the heartfelt message days after Jorge Messi died at age 68 following an illness. Along with being his father, Jorge also served as his longtime agent and played a key role in shaping one of the greatest careers in soccer history.
In the emotional post, Messi admitted he is still struggling to accept the loss.
He wrote, “Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone,” he wrote. “It hasn’t sunk in—or rather, I don’t want it to.”
The Inter Miami star also revealed that his father encouraged him to play in the recent FIFA World Cup despite his declining health. However, Jorge’s condition worsened shortly before the tournament began.
Messi said he kept pushing Argentina through the competition in the hope that his father would recover enough to watch him play one last time. “I wanted to win it so I could bring it to you and show you a new trophy,” he wrote. “I couldn’t do it; my legs just gave out.”
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also made a startling admission about his future in the sport. “I don’t know what I’ll do without you; I don’t know how to go on,” Messi wrote. “All I ever did was play soccer, and now I have serious doubts about whether I’ll keep doing it much longer.”
He also thanked his father for every sacrifice he made throughout his childhood. He recalled how Jorge attended practices, never missed games and always knew the right advice to give. “You were a father, a friend, and an agent,” Messi wrote. “You were always exactly who you needed to be in any given moment.”
Jorge’s death came after recent health concerns that the Messi family publicly acknowledged during the World Cup. TMZ previously reported that he died Friday at a clinic in Rosario, Argentina.
Messi concluded his tribute by promising to honor his father’s legacy through the way he raises his own children. “I’m going to miss you terribly,” he wrote. “Rest in peace, and watch over us from above. Thank you for everything. I love you, Dad.”
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