Emotional Messi Breaks Silence on Father’s Passing, Expresses Profound Grief and Uncertainty

For the first time since the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, earlier this month, Lionel Messi has publicly shared a deeply moving tribute. The Argentina captain’s emotional post offers a raw and personal glimpse into the profound grief he has been navigating during one of the most challenging periods of his life.

The football icon posted a poignant photograph with his father, accompanied by the simple yet powerful caption, “Te amo, pa” (“I love you, Dad”). This heartfelt declaration was followed by a reflective letter, delving into their enduring relationship, the aspirations surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the profound uncertainty he now faces in a world without the man who had been his steadfast companion and guide from the very beginning.

“Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone”

Messi commenced his tribute by openly admitting his struggle to come to terms with his father’s demise. “Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone. It hasn’t sunk in, or rather, I don’t want it to. It’s so hard to imagine that I won’t see you anymore, that we won’t talk anymore.”

While acknowledging his father’s suffering, Messi confessed that the loss arrived far sooner than he was prepared for. “I know you were suffering and that it’s for the best, but you left too soon. We still had so much to enjoy together.”

The World Cup Promise That Was Never Fulfilled

One of the most heart-wrenching passages centered on Argentina’s arduous journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Messi revealed that Jorge had repeatedly implored him to play in what would become his final World Cup, even as his health critically deteriorated in the days leading up to the tournament.

“You kept asking me to play in the last World Cup, and it was just days before it started that you were at your worst. It was the first time you weren’t going to be at a tournament, but Mom kept telling me you’d get better and that you’d be well enough to travel. I kept telling you we were going to make it to the final so you could go.”

Throughout Argentina’s compelling run, Messi noted that one comforting element remained agonizingly absent after every match: “Every time a game ended, I waited for and missed your message. That’s when I realised how awful the situation really was.”

Argentina upheld its side of the unspoken promise by reaching the final against Spain, but tragically, Jorge was unable to make the journey. “We made it to the final, and you couldn’t be there.”

Messi confided that his paramount motivation became lifting the trophy in his father’s honor. “I wanted to win it so I could take it home and show you a new one. I couldn’t do it; my legs just wouldn’t give out. This time, I tried to push myself against my physical limitations, but I couldn’t.”

Argentina ultimately succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Spain in the final at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19th, despite Messi’s impressive contribution of eight goals and four assists across eight matches during the tournament. “When I arrived, you thought we’d lost the final on penalties. We couldn’t talk about anything that had happened. You couldn’t enjoy it at all. We weren’t champions, but you have no idea how much we enjoyed every single match.”

“I don’t know how to go on”

Perhaps the most startling section of Messi’s tribute came as he contemplated his future. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you, I don’t know how to go on. I just played football, and now I seriously doubt I’ll be able to keep doing it for much longer.”

While these words stopped short of a definitive retirement announcement, they represent the clearest indication yet of the profound impact his father’s death has had on his perspective, potentially altering the trajectory of his legendary career.

More Than a Father

Jorge Messi was far more than simply the Argentina captain’s father. He meticulously managed his son’s career for decades, overseeing pivotal decisions from Lionel’s formative move to Barcelona as a teenager through his transfers to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. Beyond on-field matters, Jorge also skillfully managed his son’s extensive commercial affairs throughout his illustrious professional journey.

However, Messi chose to remember Jorge not for his masterful navigation of one of football’s greatest careers, but for the unwavering father he had always been. “You were a father, a friend and an agent. You were always the person you needed to be in every situation, and you were never wrong about anything.”

He fondly recalled how his father would conclude work to take him to training sessions, never missed a match, quietly endured every tense moment from the stands, and even when they held differing opinions, somehow always proved to be correct.

Messi concluded his poignant message by vowing that Jorge’s enduring influence would live on through the way he raises his own children. “I’m going to miss you so much, but you’ll always be with me, especially in my children’s upbringing, because I teach and raise them the way you raised me.”

“Rest in peace and watch over us from above, just like you did here. Thank you for everything. I love you, Dad.”