Lionel Messi has raised questions about his future in soccer following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, who died on August 7 after a long illness. In an emotional tribute shared on social media this August 12, the Argentinian star said his father's passing has left him questioning whether he will continue playing for much longer.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know how to go on. I only played [soccer]. And now, I have serious doubts about whether I’ll keep doing it for much longer,” Messi wrote.
Messi said Jorge was unable to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup after his health deteriorated. “I know you were suffering and that this is for the best, but you left us too soon. We still had so much left to enjoy together,” he wrote.
Messi also said his father would remain present in the way he raises his children, promising to pass on the values with which he and his siblings were raised.
Indeed, Lionel Messi is considered one of the greatest soccer players in history, with a legendary career that includes multiple Ballon d’Or awards, Champions League titles, and a World Cup victory with Argentina in 2022.
Click through the following gallery to revisit some of the defining moments of his remarkable journey.