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Argentine football legend Lionel Messi expressed deep uncertainty about his future in the sport following the death of his father and long-time agent, Jorge Messi.
In an emotional social media message, the 39-year-old Inter Miami star wrote, “I don’t know what I’ll do without you; I don’t know how to go on. I just played football, and now I have serious doubts about continuing to do so for much longer.”
He praised his father’s pivotal role in his life and career, stating, “You were a father, a friend, and an agent. You were always exactly who you needed to be in every moment, and you never put a foot wrong.”
Reflecting on his father’s final months during the 2026 World Cup, Messi recalled trying to reach the championship match for him.
“I kept telling you we would reach the final so you could make the trip,” Messi shared. “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.”
Addressing Argentina’s 1–0 final loss to Spain in New Jersey, he added, “This time I tried to push past my physical limits, but I couldn’t. I never felt right.”
The message comes after Messi returned to the United States following a private funeral in Perez, near Rosario, where close family and Argentina teammates bid farewell to Jorge.
Concerns surrounding Jorge’s health surfaced during the tournament after his unusual absence prompted the family to ask the media for “humanity,” and Messi broke down in tears after scoring against Algeria while dealing with “a situation outside of sports.”
Although the family disclosed no official cause of death, local media reported that Jorge had been battling cancer.
Jorge Messi passed away last week at age 68, having managed his son’s legendary career from his early days in Rosario, Argentina, through his historic runs at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami.
Throughout Messi’s rise to eight Ballon d’Or trophies and a 2022 World Cup title, Jorge acted as his primary advisor and contract negotiator, serving as a pivotal figure in both his personal life and global commercial success.
