Captain of the national team of Argentina and the famous soccer player Lionel Messi, released a powerful farewell message to his father, Jorge Messi, who passed away on August 7 at the age of 68, expressing great sadness and doubts about the future of his soccer career.
In a message posted on social media on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, Messi said that he has not yet recovered from the fact that his father is no longer there, stressing that it is difficult for him to accept that they will not see each other again or talk to each other again as they used to do.
He said that he was sure that his mother’s health had not been good in the past few days, but that his death came at an unexpected time because he felt that they still had a lot of time to continue sharing happiness and being together.
Messi also returned to the last World Cup tour, saying that his father often asked him to participate in the tournament. However, he said that shortly before it started, his father’s life had serious problems, which made him unable to follow the competition as he had wanted.
He said, before going to the tournament, he had promised his father that Argentina would reach the final game so that he would watch it when he was sick. Even though it didn’t happen as he expected, Messi said that he went to visit him after the match, even though there was a lot they couldn’t talk about because he was so sick. Messi said that was the only thing they didn’t talk about, because everything else his father knew.
He continued to say that they talked every day and he tried to meet him often when he got the chance. He said his message touched the hearts of many, Messi revealed that his father’s death left him with many problems, including doubts about the future of his career.
He said: “I just played football, but now I have doubts if I will continue to play it for a long time.”
He went on to say that his father was by his side from the time he started playing hockey until he reached the top level, wondering why he couldn’t be a little more patient to finish the journey they started.
Messi said that his father was very sad to see him in a difficult situation, but he was also very happy with every success he saw in him, even though he was not a person who liked to praise him very much.
At the end of his message, he said:
“You were a father, a friend and a supporter. You were someone I needed every moment of my life. Rest in peace and continue to watch over us as you did when you were here. You did everything. I love you, Dad.”
Messi last played for Argentina in the 2026 World Cup, where the team lost in the final match against Spain 1-0, missing the chance to regain the title. After the tournament, he returned to Inter Miami, but was unable to spend much time with his teammates due to the death of his father.
The player has requested an indefinite leave of absence from Inter Miami to be close to his family in these difficult times. There are reports that he still doesn’t know when he will return to the field, and some have started to wonder if he can retire from football.
In order to be close to him, the management of Inter Miami allowed the players and staff of this team to support Lionel Messi, while he continues to deal with the great grief of losing his father who he considered as a mentor, friend and the most important pillar in his life.
WRITTEN BY HAKIZIMANA ZAWADI
