Messi questions career future following death of father and agent Jorge

Lionel Messi has cast doubt on the duration of his football career, posting an emotional tribute following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, aged 68. The former Argentina captain stated he is unsure how much longer he will continue playing, citing the loss of his father, who had acted as his agent since he was 14 years old.

Jorge Messi passed away last week in a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, after a long illness. A private funeral was held on Sunday at a cemetery in Perez, a town on the outskirts of Rosario, where the family returned following the death.

In a social media statement, Messi, 39, reflected on the role his father played in his life and career. "I don't know what I'm going to do without you," he wrote. "I don't know how to carry on. I used to just play football, and now I'm really not sure if I'll carry on doing it for much longer."

Messi added, "You were by my side from the beginning; there was so little left until the end. Why couldn't you hold on just a little longer so we could finish it together?"

The announcement comes shortly after Messi led Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final, where they were defeated 1-0 by Spain. Prior to the final, Argentina had secured their place in the championship match with a 2-1 semi-final victory over England in Atlanta.

Following the conclusion of the international tournament, Messi returned to his club side, Inter Miami. The uncertainty surrounding his future marks a significant shift for a player who recently captained his nation to a World Cup final appearance, having previously won the tournament in 2022.