Lionel Messi breaks silence after father’s death, questions his football future

Lionel Messi has hinted that the end of his career maybe near admitting to “quite a few doubts”about his football future following the death of his father.

Jorge Messi died last week at the age of 68 in Rosario, Argentina, after a long illness, with his health during this summer’s World Cup appearing to take toll on Argentina’s’ 39-year-old captain.

In a tribute on Instagram on Wednesday, Messi wrote: “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know how to move forward. I only played football and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I’m going to keep doing it for much longer”.

Messi aso recalled how his father encouraged him to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite his declining health. Messi said he hoped Argentina would reached the final so Jorge could travel and see him play, but his father was unable to attend. Argentina eventually lost to Spain.

Messi said he thought about his father after every match during the tournament and wanted to win the World Cup so he coy bring the trophy home and show it to him. He also revealed that he struggled physically throughout the tournament and said he had doubts about continuing to play football for much longer following his father’s death.

Jorge was far more than Messi’s father, he was also his longtime representative, adviser and one of the most important figures in his football journey from childhood in Argentina to global stardom.

Messi promised that his father’s influence would live on through the way he raises his own children.

Messi has earned 207 caps for Argentina since making his debut for his country in August 2005.

Messi has earned 207 caps for Argentina since making his debut for his country in August 2005. He captained the side to World Cup glory in 2022, matching the achievement of Diego Madona in 1986, though like Maradona he fell in the final hurdle when attempting to win back-to-back.

“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 raise me”‘, Messi said.

-9News Nigeria.