Lionel Messi hints at retirement in emotional post to late father

In an emotional post to late father, Lionel Messi admitted that he may not continue playing football for much longer. Messi's father, who also worked as his agent. passed away at the age of 68 on August 7.Messi admitted that he may not continue playing for longer (Courtesy: Lionel Messi Instagram)In an emotional post to his late father, Lionel Messi admits doubts over continuing his football career. In a heartfelt message on his official Instagram, Messi said that he doesn't know how to carry on without his father by his side.Messi's father passed away on August 7 after a long battle with illness. Jorge worked as the agent of Messi and played a big part in shaping his son's career very early. From the very beginning of his son's football journey in Rosario, he handled his career as his manager, agent and closest adviser, remaining by his side throughout his rise to the very top of world football. While the footballing world mourned his passing, Messi was silent and went to his hometown of Rosario to attend his father's funeral.During the tournament, the Argentina skipper endured an emotional moment despite his impressive start. He scored three times in the opening game against Algeria, but his first goal was followed by an outpouring of emotion as he broke down in tears during the celebrations.Messi later revealed that the reaction had nothing to do with football, saying he had been dealing with "a few difficult, complicated days" in the lead-up to the match. In his lengthy Instagram statement, Messi revealed that it was his father who encouraged him to play in the World Cup this year. The Argentine maestro helped his side to make it to the final of the World Cup, where he scored eight goals and four assists.The Argentina captain claimed that he wanted to win the World Cup to bring to his dad, but admitted that he couldn't physically push through in the end and was struggling. Messi said that he doesn't know what he would do without his dad by his side, who was present right from the start. The Argentine maestro spoke about how Jorge used to suffer watching him play, but he would enjoy it without giving away many compliments.Messi has taken an indefinite break from football and has been excused by his club Inter Miami. Messi's post for his dad touched the hearts of many from the footballing world. Messi's rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, put out a statement on the comments section, extending his support to the Argentine maestro.LIONEL MESSI'S FULL LETTER TO FATHER"Dad, I still can't believe that you're gone. I don't want to accept it, or rather, I don't want to fall apart. It's very difficult for me to imagine that I'm never going to see you again, that we won't talk anymore. I know you were suffering and that this is for the best, but you left far too soon. We still had so much left to enjoy together.""You kept asking me to play in one last World Cup, and days before it began was when you were at your worst. It was the first time you weren't going to be at a tournament, but Mom kept telling me that you were going to get better and that you would be well enough to travel. I kept telling you that we were going to reach the final so that you could travel.""Every time I finished a match, I would wait for and miss your message. That's when I realised just how bad the situation really was. Even so, I never stopped thinking about going as far as possible, so I could give you time and so that you could watch me play a match.""We reached the final and you couldn't be there. I wanted to win it so I could take it to you and show you a new one. I couldn't. My legs just couldn't go any further. This time, I tried to push through it physically, but I couldn't. I never felt well.""When I arrived, you thought we had lost the final on penalties. We couldn't talk about anything that happened. You couldn't enjoy any of it. We weren't champions, but you don't know how much we enjoyed every single match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play it.""I'm telling you this because it was the only thing we couldn't talk about, because you already knew everything else. We spoke every day and saw each other whenever my commitments allowed it.""I don't know what I'm going to do without you. I don't know how to carry on. I only played football, and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I'm going to keep doing it for much longer. You were by my side from the very beginning, and we were so close to the end. Why couldn't you hold on just a little longer so we could finish this together?""I know that what made you happiest was seeing your family, your wife, your children and, above all, without the others knowing, watching me play.""That's how it had always been since I was little. You would take me to every training session as soon as you got home from work. My mum took me to many of them because you were working.""Obviously, you never missed a single match. You suffered watching me and you enjoyed it too, even though you never gave me many compliments.""You were my dad, my friend and my representative. You were always the person you needed to be in every situation, and you were never wrong about anything. Beyond some arguments or disagreements, you were always right. In the end, things always turned out the way you said they would.""I'm going to miss you so much, but you will always be present, especially in how I raise my children, because I teach and raise them the way you and Mum raised me.""Rest in peace, Dad, and watch over us from above like you did here. Thank you for everything.""I love you, Dad," read the statement from Messi.- EndsPublished On: Aug 12, 2026 18:50 IST