‘I really doubt I’ll carry on’: Messi sees end of football career in farewell to his father

Messi Questions His Future Following Father’s Passing

Usagevpn.com – After more than twenty years navigating the spotlight with characteristic reserve, Lionel Messi has opened up about one of life’s most profound losses. The Argentine football legend recently shared an intimate letter on social media following the death of his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, revealing not only his grief but also casting doubt on whether he will continue playing professional football.

The message, written directly to Jorge, captures a man grappling with both personal loss and professional uncertainty. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you, I don’t know how to carry on,” Messi wrote. “I just played football and now I have serious doubts that I’ll keep doing it for much longer.”

I don’t know what I’m going to do without you, I don’t know how to carry on. I just played football and now I have serious doubts that I’ll keep doing it for much longer.

For a player who has consistently avoided discussing retirement plans, these words carry exceptional significance. The Albiceleste captain also expressed sorrow that his father could not witness the final chapter of his career. “You were by my side from the very start, there was so little left to go. Why didn’t you hang on that bit longer so we could finish together?” the statement continued.

A Father’s Multifaceted Role

Jorge Messi was far more than a parent to the football icon. From Messi’s earliest days in Rosario, his father served as both family member and agent, shouldering considerable responsibility for his son’s career away from the pitch. The footballer has publicly acknowledged this dual role on multiple occasions throughout his journey.

In his letter, Messi reflected on this constant presence and expressed regret that his father’s declining health—already evident during the 2022 World Cup—prevented Jorge from accompanying him through the tournament’s conclusion.

Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone. We still had so much left to enjoy together. You kept insisting that I should play the last World Cup, and just days before it began was when you got worse.

Messi recounted how his mother convinced him that Jorge would recover sufficiently to travel and watch the final match. The player held onto this hope until the bitter end.

I told you we were going to reach the final so you could travel. We made it to the final and you couldn’t be there.

The reference is to Argentina’s match against Spain on July 19 in New Jersey—a game the South American side ultimately lost. Messi expressed his desire to win the trophy as a tribute to his father, acknowledging that his body simply could not deliver one more time.

I wanted to win it to bring it to you and show you a new one. I couldn’t; my legs just weren’t there any more. This time I tried to push my body beyond its limits, but I couldn’t. I never managed to feel right.

Career Milestones and Uncertain Future

Messi’s career trajectory has been nothing short of extraordinary. His journey began with a Barcelona first-team debut in 2004 at just seventeen years old, launching a spell at the Catalan club that would span more than two decades. During that period, he experienced numerous triumphs, including scoring a header in the 2009 Champions League final against Manchester United in Rome—a goal he has described as the most important of his career.

The crowning achievement came in Qatar in 2022, when Messi finally lifted the World Cup trophy after Argentina defeated France in a penalty shoot-out. This victory completed his collection of major honors, coming after four previous final defeats with the senior national team.

His departure from Barcelona in 2021, forced by the club’s financial and institutional crisis, marked another emotional milestone. After winning thirty-five trophies during his time there, Messi tearfully announced his departure before joining Paris Saint-Germain. The most recent Ballon d’Or arrived in 2023, marking his ninth individual award of this caliber.

For now, Messi remains contracted with Inter Miami. No formal announcement regarding his future with either the American club or the Argentine national team has been made. However, the letter suggests that his father’s death has prompted a period of reflection he had not previously shared publicly.

The player has always acknowledged that his relationship with football was deeply intertwined with his father’s presence, which helps explain why questions about his future have emerged at this particular moment.

Private Farewell and Ongoing Tributes

Jorge Messi’s funeral was conducted privately at the El Prado cemetery in Rosario, the shared hometown of father and son. Antonela Roccuzzo and the footballer’s children attended the intimate ceremony. In the days following, clubs and football organizations in Argentina, including Newell’s Old Boys—the team Jorge openly supported—sent messages of condolence.

As Messi navigates this period of personal and professional transition, his words resonate with fans worldwide. The man who conquered football’s greatest stages now faces perhaps his most challenging challenge: deciding whether to continue the journey that began alongside his father so many years ago.