"All I Ever Did Was Play Football"
Messi's message on Wednesday was raw. "All I ever did was play football, and now I have serious doubts about whether I'll keep doing it for much longer," he wrote.
"I don't know what I'm going to do without you. I don't know how to carry on. You were by my side from the very 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?"
Jorge Messi was more than a parent. He was also his son's lifelong agent, guiding the career that took a boy from Rosario through Barcelona's youth ranks to eight Ballon d'Or awards and the 2022 World Cup trophy.
"You were a father, a friend, and an agent," Messi wrote. "You were always exactly who you needed to be in every moment, and you never put a foot wrong."
The Secret He Carried Through the World Cup
The message casts Messi's summer in a new light. Argentina reached the 2026 World Cup final, losing 1-0 to Spain in New Jersey in July. All the while, Messi knew his father was fading.
"You always asked me to play in the last World Cup and a few days before it started was when you got worse," he wrote. "It was the first time you weren't going to be at a tournament. Every time a match ended, I would wait and hope for your message. That's when I realised how real the situation was."
There were signs at the time. Jorge's absence from the tournament drew attention, and the family asked the media for "humanity" amid persistent rumors about his health. After bursting into tears following a goal against Algeria in the group stage, Messi admitted he was dealing with "a situation outside of sports."
He had one goal left for his father. "I kept telling you we would reach the final so you could make the trip. 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."
A Private Farewell in Argentina
Messi said goodbye on Sunday at a private ceremony in Perez, a town adjacent to Rosario, attended by close family and a few Argentina teammates. The cause of death was not disclosed, though local media reported Jorge Messi had been battling cancer.
Messi returned to the United States on Tuesday night.
What Retirement Would Mean
Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami through the end of the 2028 season. But retirement rumors had already been swirling after Argentina failed to defend the title they won at Qatar 2022, and his own words now put the question squarely on the table.
If he walks away, he leaves as one of the greatest to ever play: eight Ballon d'Ors, a World Cup, and two decades at the summit of the sport.
Honoring His Father
Whatever he decides on the pitch, Messi made one commitment clear. "I'm going to miss you so much, but you will always be present, especially in the upbringing of my children, because I will teach them and raise them the way you raised me."
FAQ
Is Lionel Messi retiring?
Not officially. He said he has "serious doubts" about playing "much longer" following his father's death, but has made no formal announcement.
What happened to Messi's father?
Jorge Messi died this past weekend at 68. The cause was not disclosed, though local media reported he had been suffering from cancer.
Is Messi still under contract with Inter Miami?
Yes, through the end of the 2028 MLS season.
Did Messi know his father was ill during the World Cup?
Yes. He revealed his father's condition worsened days before the tournament began, and that he played at his father's request.
How did Argentina do at the 2026 World Cup?
They reached the final but lost 1-0 to Spain in New Jersey, failing to defend their 2022 title.
