Messi highlighted his father’s pivotal position in his life and profession. File.
| Picture Credit score: AFP
Argentina famous person and inspiration behind his nation’s 2022 World Cup victory, Lionel Messi, mentioned on Wednesday (August 12, 2026) he has “severe doubts” about persevering with to play soccer for “for much longer” after the death of his father Jorge Messi.
“I don’t know what I’ll do with out you, I don’t know how one can go on. I simply performed soccer, and now I’ve severe doubts about persevering with to take action for for much longer,” Messi, 39, wrote in a message on social media after his father, who was additionally his agent, died final week aged 68.
Within the message, Messi, whose contract with Main League Soccer outfit Inter Miami runs until the top of the 2028 season, mirrored on the ultimate months of his father’s life, which coincided with the 2026 World Cup.
“I saved telling you we’d attain the ultimate so you would make the journey,” mentioned Messi, who returned to the US on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) night time following his father’s funeral on Sunday (August 9, 2026).
“We made it to the ultimate, however you couldn’t be there. I wished to win it to carry it to you and present you a brand new one. I couldn’t; my legs simply gave out.”
“This time I attempted to push previous my bodily limits, however I couldn’t. I by no means felt proper,” Messi mentioned in his first feedback after the 1–0 loss to Spain within the remaining in New Jersey.
Messi highlighted his father’s pivotal position in his life and profession: “You have been a father, a pal, and an agent. You have been all the time precisely who you wanted to be in each second, and also you by no means put a foot unsuitable.”
Jorge Messi’s uncommon absence from the World Cup in June had already attracted consideration.
Messi’s household requested the media for “humanity” in the course of the match amid persistent rumours over Jorge’s well being.
After bursting into tears after scoring towards Algeria in a bunch match, Messi had admitted to coping with “a state of affairs exterior of sports activities”.
On Sunday (August 9, 2026), the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner bid farewell to his father throughout a personal ceremony with shut household and some Argentina teammates within the city of Perez, adjoining to Rosario.
The reason for loss of life was not disclosed, however native media reported that Jorge Messi had been affected by most cancers.
Printed – August 12, 2026 07:52 pm IST
