Lionel Messi has admitted he has "serious doubts” about continuing his football career for much longer following the death of his father, Jorge Messi.
The Argentina captain opened up about his grief Wednesday in a lengthy social media tribute to his father, who died last week at 68 after a long illness.
"I don't know what I'm going to do without you. I don't know how to move forward,” Messi wrote. "I only played football, and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I'm going to keep doing it for much longer.”
The emotional message offered Messi's first detailed reflection on his father's death and revealed how closely Jorge's final months were intertwined with the most demanding period of his son's career.
Jorge was more than Messi's father. He was his agent, adviser and one of the central figures in his career from the beginning, including during Messi's rise through Barcelona's youth system.
Messi said his father had repeatedly encouraged him to play at the 2026 World Cup, even as Jorge's health deteriorated in the weeks before the tournament.
"You always asked me to play in the last World Cup and a few days before it started was when you got worse,” Messi wrote.
Jorge's absence became increasingly noticeable during the tournament. Messi's family had asked the media for privacy and "humanity” as speculation grew about his father's health.
Messi also appeared to be carrying the weight of the situation on the field.
After scoring a hat trick against Algeria in the group stage, Messi broke down in tears during his celebration. He later said his emotions were connected to "a situation outside of sports” and acknowledged that he had been going through difficult days.
Despite that, Messi continued to lead Argentina through the tournament and helped guide the team to the final, where they lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time.
Messi said reaching the final had been particularly meaningful because he had promised his father they would get there together.
"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.”
He wanted to win the championship for Jorge and give him another World Cup title to celebrate, but Messi said his body ultimately could not carry him any further.
"I wanted to win it to bring it to you and show you a new one. I couldn't, my legs just gave out,” he wrote. "This time I tried to push past my physical limits, but I couldn't. I never felt right.”
Messi's comments add another layer to his decision about how much longer he wants to play. The 39-year-old remains under contract with Inter Miami through the 2028 season, but his latest message suggests that his future is now being considered through a deeply personal lens.
Jorge's influence on Messi extended well beyond football. Messi described him as "a father, a friend, and an agent” who was always there when he was needed.
"You were by my side from the beginning,” Messi wrote. "You were always exactly who you needed to be in every moment, and you never put a foot wrong.”
Messi returned to the United States Tuesday after attending his father's funeral Sunday in Perez, near their hometown of Rosario. The private ceremony was attended by close family members and several Argentina teammates.
The cause of Jorge's death was not disclosed. Local media reported that he had been battling cancer.
Cristiano Ronaldo also reached out to Messi following the news, putting aside their long-running rivalry to offer a message of support.
"Huge hug to you and your loved ones in this difficult moment, Leo,” Ronaldo wrote.
For Messi, however, the loss is about far more than the end of a professional partnership. It is the loss of the person who stood beside him through the defining moments of his life and career.
Messi said he will carry his father's influence forward through his own children.
"I'm going to miss you so much, but you will always be present, especially in the upbringing of my children,” he wrote. "I will teach them and raise them the way you raised me.”