Messi weighs retirement after father’s death
The 39-year-old Argentine international, who has scored 921 career goals, said he is unsure if he will continue playing following the passing of Jorge Messi.
Lionel Messi has cast doubt on his future in professional football following the death of his father, Jorge. The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward, who is contracted to the club until 2028, issued an emotional tribute stating he is unsure if he will continue playing for much longer.
Messi cut short his return to club duties to attend his father’s funeral in Rosario, Argentina, where Jorge Messi passed away in a local hospital on 8 August. In a social media post on 12 August, the Argentine forward reflected on his career and personal life, admitting, "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."
The announcement coincides with a retrospective of Messi’s illustrious career, which includes winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup and securing eight Ballon d’Or awards. He has scored a combined 921 goals for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami, and the Argentina national team, cementing his status as one of the sport’s most decorated players.
Messi’s career highlights span over two decades, beginning with his breakthrough at Barcelona, where he scored 672 goals and won 35 trophies before leaving in 2021 due to financial constraints. His international success includes leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup, where he scored seven goals and was named player of the tournament.
More recently, Messi played a key role in Argentina’s 2026 World Cup campaign, scoring eight goals to take his tournament tally to 21. Although Argentina lost the final to Spain 1-0 after defeating England in the semi-finals, Messi’s individual performance remained a focal point of the tournament.
His most recent Ballon d’Or award came in October 2023 while playing for Inter Miami, extending his record haul. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his immediate future, Messi’s legacy includes breaking numerous scoring records, such as La Liga’s all-time top scorer and the single-calendar-year goal record of 91 goals in 2012.
It remains unclear whether Messi will officially announce his retirement or continue his playing career, as he has only expressed uncertainty about the long term. The exact timing of any potential retirement announcement has not been confirmed by the player or his representatives.
