Messi unsure he will play 'much longer' after father's death
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- Lionel Messi posted an emotional tribute on social media after his father Jorge died at age 68 following a long illness, writing "I don't know how to carry on" and "I don't know if I'll carry on doing it for much longer."
- Jorge Messi, who had been his son's agent since Lionel was 14, watched him become an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner before dying in a hospital in his hometown of Rosario.
- Messi said Jorge had asked him to play in "one last World Cup," with Messi revealing he kept pushing through the tournament hoping his father would recover enough to travel and watch him play.
- Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final 1-0 to Spain, with Messi playing his sixth World Cup — scoring 8 goals and registering 4 assists across 8 games — but writing he "couldn't" bring the trophy home because "my legs had nothing left."
- A private funeral for Jorge Messi took place Sunday at a cemetery in Perez, on the outskirts of Rosario, attended by family.
- Cristiano Ronaldo posted a message of support writing "Much strength, Leo," while Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said "We are with you and your family, Leo, always."
Why it matters: Jorge was Messi's agent since age 14 and the first tournament he ever missed as Messi's career was the one that ended in a 1-0 final loss to Spain. With Messi publicly saying he's "really not sure" he'll continue, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's future at Inter Miami now hangs over the sport without the man who shaped his career for over two decades by his side.
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