Temi Kings
In one of the most emotional messages of his career, Lionel Messi broke his silence following the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, sharing a deeply personal tribute that revealed the unseen pain behind Argentina's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
Jorge Messi passed away at the age of 68 following a long illness, leaving a profound void in the life of world football's most celebrated figure. Beyond being a father, Jorge served as Lionel’s agent, representative, and steady anchor from his early days in Rosario to his triumph on the global stage.
Reflecting on the 2026 World Cup, Messi disclosed that participating in the tournament was at his father's explicit wish, even as Jorge's health deteriorated rapidly just days before kickoff.
You kept asking me to play in one last World Cup... just days before it began was when your condition got worse," Messi wrote in a letter published on social media. "It was the first time you weren’t going to be there with me at a tournament... but Mom kept telling me you were going to get better and that you’d be well enough to travel.
Messi explained that reaching the World Cup final became a personal crusade to give his father something to hold onto.
I kept telling you we were going to reach the World Cup final so you could make the trip, this was my mission once again. After every match, I waited for and missed your message. That’s when I realized how serious the situation really was.
While Argentina reached the showpiece final in New Jersey, Jorge was ultimately unable to travel. Messi opened up about the immense physical and emotional toll the tournament took on him as he tried to push through his body's limits.
We reached the final, but you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it so I could bring the trophy to you and show you another one. I couldn’t. My legs just couldn’t give me any more. This time I tried to push beyond what my body could handle, but I couldn’t. I never managed to feel physically right.
Despite falling short against Spain in the final, Messi took solace in fulfilling his father's wish to play on.
We didn’t become champions Dad, but you have no idea how much we enjoyed every match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play in it... as you told me, always.
The tribute concluded with a poignant reflection on life without his lifelong mentor, leaving fans worldwide questioning if they have seen the last of the Argentine legend on the pitch.
"I don't know what I'm going to do without you, I don't know how to go on," Messi wrote. "I only played football and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I'll keep doing it for much longer."
As condolences pour in from teammates, clubs, and rivals across the world, the sporting community stands alongside Messi during one of the most difficult moments of his legendary life.