Argentinian football superstar Lionel Messi posted a long tribute on social media on Wednesday, revealing his infinite yearning and grief for his father, Jorge Messi. Messi expressed his inability and unwillingness to accept the reality of his father’s passing, admitting that without his father, he has started to doubt his football career and is unsure how long he will continue to play.
Jorge Messi passed away last week at a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina, at the age of 68 after a prolonged battle with illness. Messi took to Instagram on Wednesday to mourn his father.
“Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone, I can’t accept it, or rather, I don’t want to accept it. It’s hard to imagine never seeing you again from now on, never being able to talk to you again,” Messi said.
He added that he knew his father had been suffering from illness and that departing from this world was the best relief for his father, but he still felt that his father left too soon.
“You wanted me to participate in the latest World Cup (2026 World Cup), and just a few days before the World Cup kicked off, your condition worsened. It was the first time you couldn’t be there to watch the games, but mom told me you would get better and your body would recover enough to travel. I told you we would make it to the final so you could come watch the game.”
“After every game, I waited for a message from you, but it never came, and that’s when I realized how serious the situation was. Even so, I kept telling myself that we had to go as far as possible (meaning to progress step by step in the matches) so you could have the chance to watch a game.”
“We made it to the final, but you couldn’t be there in person. I wanted to win the championship, bring the trophy to you, and let you see a new trophy. But I couldn’t do it – my legs couldn’t give me the strength. I tried to fight against my body this time, but I couldn’t… we didn’t win, but you can’t imagine how much we enjoyed every game. Once again, you were right: I had to be there, playing on the field.”
“I’m telling you this because it’s the only thing we didn’t get the chance to talk about, you already know everything else. We talked every day, and we tried to meet whenever my schedule allowed,” Messi said.
Throughout his entire football career, Jorge Messi provided immense support to his son. Since Messi’s early days with FC Barcelona in La Liga, his father had been by his side, serving as a pillar of support and also acting as his agent for many years.
During the 2026 World Cup, Argentina’s first match against Algeria saw Messi scoring a hat-trick. When celebrating his first goal, he couldn’t help but shed tears. Later, at a press conference, Messi explained that he cried due to “non-football-related matters” and that he was going through “a few difficult and agonizing days.” A few days later, Messi’s family released a statement, revealing Jorge Messi’s health issues.
During the entire World Cup tournament, the 39-year-old Messi showcased his exceptional skills by scoring 8 goals and providing 4 assists, leading Argentina to remarkable comebacks in various matches en route to the final. Despite his strong desire to win another World Cup for his father, he unfortunately failed to defeat Spain in the final. Messi cried on the spot, a scene that touched the hearts of countless fans.
Now, having lost his father’s companionship, Messi admits feeling somewhat lost about the future.
“I don’t know what to do without you, I don’t know how to continue. I’ve been playing football my whole life, and now I seriously doubt how much longer I will play,” Messi said in the tribute he posted on Wednesday.
Messi expressed regret that his father couldn’t accompany him to the end of his football career.
“From the beginning, you’ve been by my side, and we were so close to the finish line,” he said.
Reflecting on the father-son relationship, Messi recalled his father’s dedication over the years. He recounted how, from a young age, his father watched him play football.
“When you returned home from work, you would take me to every training session. Because you still had to work, and mom also took me many times. Of course, you never missed any of my games. When you watched me play, there were times of anguish and times of joy,” Messi said. “You were not just my dad, but also my friend and agent.”
“I will miss you immensely, but you will always be with me, especially as I educate my own children, accompany them in their growth, because I will teach and nurture them just like you did for me,” Messi concluded, “Rest in peace, may you in heaven watch over us as you did on earth. Thank you for everything. Dad, I love you.”