Lionel Messi published an emotional social media message on Wednesday bidding farewell to his father and agent, Jorge Messi, who died on Saturday in Argentina. Jorge Messi passed away in the early morning of August 8 at a clinic in Rosario at age 68. He had been battling an illness since the World Cup, when the Argentina captain first indicated that his father had health complications.
In his statement, Messi wrote that he still could not believe his father was gone and did not want to accept his death. He acknowledged that his father had suffered and that his passing was for the best, but noted that he left too soon when they still had much to enjoy together. Messi added that it was very difficult to imagine never seeing or speaking to him again.
World Cup memory and health struggles
Messi recalled that his father repeatedly urged him to play in the last World Cup, but his condition worsened days before the tournament. It was the first time his father missed a tournament. Messi said his mother reassured him that his father would recover to travel, prompting Messi to promise they would reach the final so his father could join them.
Throughout the competition, Messi waited for his father's message after every match, realizing how grave the situation was when none arrived. Even though Argentina reached the final, his father could not attend. Messi explained that he wanted to win a new trophy for his father, but his legs could no longer take it and he never felt physically well. When Messi returned home, his father thought they had lost the final on penalties, and they could not discuss what happened.
Messi noted that while they were not champions, they enjoyed every match, adding that his father was right about his need to play. He explained that he shared this in his post because it was the only topic they had not discussed, as they spoke daily and met whenever possible around his schedule.
Doubts over football future
Messi admitted that he did not know what he would do without his father or how to continue. Having spent his life playing football, Messi expressed serious doubts about whether he would continue playing for much longer. He asked why his father, who was by his side from the start, could not hold on a little longer so they could finish together.
Reflecting on his childhood, Messi shared how his father took him to every training session after work, while his mother took him when his father worked. He said his father never missed a match, suffering while watching him and enjoying it despite rarely offering compliments. Messi described his father as a parent, friend, and agent who was always right in the end, despite occasional arguments.
Messi added that his father's happiness came from seeing his family well and watching Messi play without others knowing. He stated that his father would remain present in how he raises his own children, educating them as his parents educated him. Messi concluded by asking his father to rest in peace, watch over the family from above, thanking him for everything, and expressing his love for him.
