Lionel Messi Says He's "Not Sure" He'll Keep Playing Football After His Father's Death — And We're Heartbroken 💔

Stop everything. Lionel Messi just broke football fans' hearts around the world.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner posted an emotional tribute to his father Jorge, who died last week aged 68 after a long illness — and in it, he revealed he's seriously questioning whether he'll continue playing the sport that made him a legend.

"I don't know what I'm going to do without you," the 39-year-old wrote on Instagram. "I don't know how to move forward. I only played football and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I'm going to keep doing it for much longer."

We are NOT okay.

The Man Behind The Legend

Jorge Messi wasn't just Lionel's father — he was his agent from the age of 14, his biggest supporter, and the person who believed in him when he was just a kid with a dream in Rosario, Argentina.

According to The Guardian, Jorge had been by his son's side through every triumph: the move to Barcelona at 13, the 672 goals for the club, the Champions League titles, the World Cup victory in 2022.

"You were by my side from the beginning; there was so little left until the end," Messi wrote. "Why couldn't you hold on just a little longer so we could finish it together?"

If you're crying, we're crying too.

He Played The 2026 World Cup For His Dad

Here's where it gets even more heartbreaking.

Messi revealed that one of the main reasons he played in this year's World Cup — where Argentina made it all the way to the final before losing 1-0 to Spain — was because his father asked him to.

"You always asked me to play in the last World Cup and a few days before it started was when you got worse," he explained, according to BBC Sport. "It was the first time you weren't going to be at a tournament."

During the tournament, Messi scored a hat-trick against Algeria in the opening match and broke down in tears celebrating the first goal. At the time, he said it was about "something unrelated to football" — now we know he was dealing with his father's declining health.

"Every time a match ended, I would wait and hope for your message. That's when I realised how real the situation was."

"My Legs Couldn't Go On Any More"

Messi pushed himself to the absolute limit trying to win that World Cup final for his dad.

"I wanted to win it so I could bring the trophy to you and show you a new one," he wrote. "I couldn't, my legs had nothing left. This time I tried to push myself beyond my physical limits, but I couldn't. I never felt well."

The Inter Miami star — who has a contract until 2028 — admitted that he played the entire tournament running on empty, physically and emotionally.

And now? He's genuinely unsure if he can continue.

What Happens Next?

Messi's tribute ended with a promise to honor his father's memory through raising his own children "the way you raised me."

Both Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham (who co-owns Inter Miami) posted messages of support. "A huge hug to you and yours in these hard times, Leo. Much strength," wrote the 41-year-old Ronaldo, according to the BBC.

But the big question everyone's asking: Will Messi actually retire?

Right now, nobody knows — not even Messi himself. And honestly, after everything he's been through, he deserves all the time he needs to figure it out.

The Tea ☕

• Lionel Messi's father Jorge died last week aged 68 after a long illness
• Messi posted a devastating Instagram tribute saying he has "quite a few doubts" about continuing his football career
• He revealed he played the 2026 World Cup mainly because his father asked him to, even though Jorge was too ill to attend
• Messi pushed himself to breaking point trying to win the final for his dad but Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain
• His Inter Miami contract runs until 2028, but his future is now uncertain

Jorge Messi watched his son become arguably the greatest footballer who ever lived. He was there for the Barcelona years, the move to PSG, the transfer to Miami. He saw him win the World Cup in 2022.

But he didn't get to see how the story ends. And now, Messi's not sure there's much more story left to tell.

Do you think Messi will retire, or will he find a way to keep playing in his father's memory? Let us know what you think below.

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Sources:

• BBC Sport: Messi unsure he will play 'much longer' after father's death
• The Guardian: Lionel Messi has 'quite a few doubts' about football future after death of his father