Event
Lionel Messi has expressed serious doubts about continuing his football career following the death of his father and former agent, Jorge Messi. The 39-year-old Argentine striker made the comments in an emotional Instagram tribute to his late father, who passed away last week at the age of 68. Messi, who recently led Argentina to the 2026 World Cup Final, stated he did not know how to carry on without his father's support. He is currently playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
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The 39-year-old Argentine captain expressed serious reservations about continuing professional football after the passing of his father and former agent, who died last week at the age of 68.
Background
Lionel Messi, the 39-year-old Argentina captain, has indicated he may retire from professional football following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, on 8 August 2026. Jorge Messi, aged 68, who served as Lionel’s agent since he was 14, passed away after a long illness. Messi cut short his return to Major League Soccer club Inter Miami to attend the funeral in Perez, near Rosario. The announcement follows Argentina’s 1-0 defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, a tournament Messi captained despite his father’s deteriorating health. Messi expressed serious doubts about continuing his career, stating he played in the World Cup to honour his father’s wish. He remains under contract with Inter Miami until the end of the 2028 season.
Lionel Messi, the 39-year-old Argentina captain, has indicated he may retire from professional football following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, on 8 August 2026. Jorge Messi, aged 68, who served as Lionel’s agent since he was 14, passed away after a long illness. Messi cu
Fact cards
Key entities: Lionel Messi, Jorge Messi, Inter Miami, Argentina, Spain, Lamine Yamal.
Fox Sports | https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/lionel-messi-future-post-argentina-world-cup-inter-miami-schedule | published 2026-08-12T14:37:16.000Z | primary source | Al Jazeera Global News | https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/8/12/argentina-star-messi-not-certain-to-
2026-07: Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final; subsequently lost to Spain 1-0 in the final. 2026-08-08: Jorge Messi passed away in a hospital in Rosario, Argentina. 2026-08-08: Lionel Messi cut short his return to Inter Miami to attend his father’s funeral.
Timeline
Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final; subsequently lost to Spain 1-0 in the final.
Jorge Messi passed away in a hospital in Rosario, Argentina.
Lionel Messi cut short his return to Inter Miami to attend his father’s funeral.
Messi attended a private funeral ceremony in Perez, near Rosario.
Messi posted on social media expressing serious doubts about continuing his football career.