This Wednesday, Lionel Messi shared a heartfelt farewell letter to his father on Instagram, just four days after the burial of Jorge Messi, who passed away last Saturday at 68 in Rosario's Sanatorio Centro. The post includes a touching photograph of the two together and the complete text of the letter, ending with the simple phrase: "I love you, dad."
Jorge Messi's death occurred in the early hours of Saturday, August 8, at 2:00 am local time, following a prolonged illness kept private by the family. A private funeral took place on Sunday at El Prado, a cemetery located about 25 minutes from Rosario in the town of Pérez, attended by close family members.
The letter opens with a statement of disbelief: "Dad, I still can't believe you're gone. I can't accept it, or rather, I don't want to. It's hard to imagine I won't see you again, or talk to you. I know you were in pain, and it's for the best, but you left too soon. We had so much more to enjoy together."
Messi's Doubts About His Future in Soccer
Perhaps the most striking part of the letter confronts Messi's future in professional soccer: "I don't know what I'm going to do without you, I don't know how to continue. I only played soccer, and now I'm not sure I'll keep doing it much longer. You were by my side from the start, and we were so close to the end. Why couldn't you hold on a little longer so we could finish together?"
The 39-year-old Argentine star also shared details about his experience during the 2026 World Cup, his last. Jorge's condition worsened just before the tournament began, marking the first time he wasn't present to support his son: "You always asked me to play in the last World Cup, and just days before it started, you got worse."
Messi admitted that he played each game with his father in mind: "After every match, I waited for and missed your message. That's when I realized how dire the situation was." Argentina reached the final, held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where they lost to Spain 1-0 in overtime. They had hoped Jorge could attend, but he could not.
A Painful Reunion
One of the most heartbreaking moments in the letter describes their reunion in Rosario after the tournament: "When I arrived, you thought we'd lost the final on penalties. We couldn't talk about anything that had happened. You didn't get to enjoy any of it."
Messi also reflected on his father's role from his childhood, taking him to training sessions after work, and defined him in three words: "You were a dad, a friend, and a representative. You were always the person you needed to be at every moment, and you never made a mistake."
In an Instagram story posted the same day, Messi expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of support: "I want to sincerely thank everyone for the love, respect, and immense consideration shown to me and my family during this painful time following my dad's passing. Thank you for being there, for every message, every gesture, and above all, for respecting our pain and privacy."
The letter concludes with a promise: "I will miss you a lot, but you will always be present, especially in the education of my children, because I teach and raise them as you did with me. Rest in peace and watch over us from above as you did here. Thank you for everything."
Messi is under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, yet the words he shared this Wednesday have left an unanswered question echoing through the soccer world: Will he continue playing?
Messi's Future and Legacy
How did Messi's father influence his soccer career?
Jorge Messi played a crucial role in Lionel's soccer journey, supporting him from a young age by taking him to training sessions and being a constant presence in his career as a dad, friend, and representative.
What impact did Jorge Messi's illness have on Lionel during the 2026 World Cup?
Jorge's illness significantly affected Lionel Messi during the 2026 World Cup, as it was the first tournament his father couldn't attend. Messi played each match with his father in mind, deeply missing his support and messages.
What does Messi's letter suggest about his future in soccer?
Messi's letter raises doubts about his future in soccer, as he openly expresses uncertainty about continuing to play without his father's presence, leaving fans and the soccer community to speculate about his career trajectory.