Messi casts doubt on career future following father’s death
The 39-year-old star, who captained Argentina to a 1-0 loss against Spain in July, expressed serious reservations about continuing professional football after the passing of Jorge Messi on 8 August.
Lionel Messi has signalled a potential end to his professional football career, stating he has “serious doubts” about continuing after the death of his father, Jorge Messi. The 39-year-old Argentina captain cut short his return to Major League Soccer club Inter Miami to attend the funeral, which took place on Sunday in Perez, near Rosario.
Messi, who led Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Spain in July, posted an emotional message on social media platform X on Wednesday. He reflected on the final months of his father’s life, noting that he played in the tournament primarily to honour his father’s wish, despite Jorge’s health deteriorating shortly before the competition began.
“I kept telling you we would reach the final so you could make the trip,” Messi wrote. “We made it to the final, but you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it to bring it to you and show you a new one. I couldn’t, my legs just gave out.”
Jorge Messi, aged 68, passed away in a hospital in Rosario on 8 August. While the cause of death was not officially disclosed, local media reported he had been suffering from cancer. He had acted as Lionel’s agent since the forward was 14 years old, serving as a father, friend, and professional manager throughout his career.
The announcement follows a period of intense scrutiny regarding Jorge Messi’s health during the World Cup, where his absence had previously drawn media attention. Messi’s family had requested “humanity” from the press during the tournament, and Lionel had previously admitted to dealing with a “situation outside of sports” while playing.
Despite being under contract with Inter Miami until the end of the 2028 season, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner indicated that his playing days may be numbered. He attended a private funeral ceremony with close family and a few Argentina teammates, pledging to honour his father’s memory through the upbringing of his own children.
