Argentina captain Lionel Messi has raised fresh questions about his future in football following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, at the age of 68.
The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, opened up about his grief in an emotional message shared on Instagram on Wednesday.
Messi had returned to the United States after attending his father’s private funeral in Perez, near Rosario, on Sunday. His return to Inter Miami comes after Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in July.
Reflecting on his career and his father’s influence, Messi admitted that he was now uncertain about how much longer he would continue playing.
“All I ever did was play football, and now I have serious doubts about whether I’ll keep doing it for much longer,” Messi 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 played a major role in his son’s career, serving as his agent and supporting him from the earliest stages of his football journey.
Messi recalled how his father had hoped to watch him play at another World Cup and had encouraged him to continue competing.
“I kept telling you we would reach the final so you could make the trip,” Messi said.
“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.”
The Argentine star also admitted that he struggled physically during the tournament.
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“This time I tried to push past my physical limits, but I couldn’t. I never felt right,” he said.
Messi said his father had been more than an agent, describing him as a parent and close friend who was always present throughout his career.
“You were a father, a friend, and an agent. You were always exactly who you needed to be in every moment, and you never put a foot wrong,” he wrote.
Jorge Messi’s health had attracted attention during the World Cup, with the family previously appealing to the media for “humanity” amid reports about his condition.
Messi also revealed during the tournament that he was dealing with a difficult personal situation outside football. After scoring against Algeria in the group stage, he became emotional while acknowledging that he was facing “a situation outside of sports”.
He later explained that his father had wanted him to play in the previous World Cup.
“You always asked me to play in the last World Cup and a few days before it started was when you got worse,” Messi said.
“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.”
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, remains contracted to Inter Miami until the end of the 2028 season. However, his latest comments have intensified speculation that he could bring his illustrious playing career to an end.
Despite his loss, Messi said he intended to honour his father’s memory by passing on the lessons and values he received from him to his children.
“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,” he said.