Lionel Messi has admitted he is uncertain about how much longer he will continue his football career following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, last week at the age of 68.
The Argentina captain shared an emotional tribute to his father, who had been his agent since Messi was 14 and played an important role throughout his career. Jorge was closely involved as his son developed from a young footballer into one of the most decorated players in the history of the sport.
Messi explained that his father’s death had left him struggling to imagine life without him and questioning whether he wants to continue playing for much longer. He described their relationship as extremely close and reflected on how his father had supported him from the beginning of his career.
Jorge had been dealing with a long-term illness and his health deteriorated shortly before the 2026 World Cup. Messi had hoped his father would recover sufficiently to attend the tournament, particularly after Argentina reached the final.
Messi captained Argentina throughout their World Cup campaign and played eight matches, scoring eight goals and providing four assists. Argentina ultimately finished runners-up after losing the final 1-0 to Spain.
The forward had previously become emotional during the tournament after scoring against Algeria. At the time, his family confirmed that his reaction was connected to a health situation involving his father rather than events on the pitch.
Messi revealed that his father had repeatedly encouraged him to compete at another World Cup. Before the tournament began, Jorge’s condition became significantly worse, preventing him from travelling to watch his son.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Messi continued with the tournament and helped Argentina reach the final. He had hoped to win the trophy and bring it back to his father, but Argentina were ultimately unable to claim the title.
Following Jorge’s death, Messi returned to Argentina with his family. A private funeral was held on Sunday at a cemetery in Perez, near his hometown of Rosario.
The loss has now left Messi facing uncertainty over his playing future. Having already represented Argentina at six World Cups and recently completed another demanding international campaign, the 39-year-old has yet to confirm how long he intends to continue his professional career.
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