Lionel Messi has raised questions about his future in football following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, admitting that he has “quite a few doubts” about whether he will continue playing for much longer.
The 39-year-old Inter Miami star opened up about his grief in an emotional tribute to his father, who died this week after battling ill health.
Messi revealed that his father’s illness had affected him deeply, particularly during the recent World Cup, and said he had hoped Jorge would live long enough to see him complete his playing career.
“You were by my side from the beginning; there was so little left until the end,” Messi wrote. “Why couldn’t you hold on that little bit more so we could finish together?”
Jorge played a central role in Messi’s extraordinary career. He served as his son’s agent and moved with him to Barcelona when Messi was a teenager as he pursued his dream of playing for one of the world’s biggest clubs.
Their professional and personal partnership lasted for more than two decades as Messi developed into one of football’s greatest players.
Messi said his father was always there for him, serving not only as his father but also as a friend and representative.
The Argentine also recalled how Jorge encouraged him to play at another World Cup despite his own health deteriorating.
“You asked me so much to play in the last World Cup,” Messi said, adding that he kept pushing during the tournament in the hope that his father would recover enough to watch him play.
Messi said he missed receiving his father’s messages after each match and eventually realised how serious his condition had become.
In his tribute, the Inter Miami forward also expressed uncertainty about what comes next.
“I have quite a few doubts about whether I’ll keep doing it for much longer,” he said, adding that he did not know how to move forward without his father.
Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, but his latest comments have raised fresh speculation about whether he will continue his playing career for that long.
For now, the football world is waiting to see whether the emotional loss will influence the Argentine icon’s decision about his future.Two headline suggestions: