Lionel Messi mourns late father Jorge in statement, laments World Cup, questions future

Lionel Messi is mourning the death of his father Jorge, and has released an emotional statement on the passing of the 68-year-old. Jorge Messi passed on August 8 following a long illness, and his son Lionel says participating in the 2026 World Cup was his father's suggestion. MORE — Premier League 2026-27 schedule "You asked me so much to play in the last World Cup, and it was in the days just before it started that you got the worst," Messi said , later saying, "We weren’t champions, but you have no idea how much we enjoyed every single match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play it." Lionel Messi also said that his body lagged as the tournament reached its climax; The 39-year-old scored in each of the tournament's first five games including a hat trick in the opener and had a goal and/or an assist in every match but the final. The Inter Miami man finished with eight goals and four assists in seven matches at the tournament. "I wanted to win it to bring it to you and show you a new one," Lionel Messi wrote on his social media account. "I couldn’t; my legs wouldn’t give any more. This time I tried to go against my body, but I couldn’t. I never managed to feel good." Lionel Messi questions playing future after death of father Jorge Messi returned to Miami after a three-week post-World Cup break, playing 37 minutes in a league match against Columbus before scoring two goals and adding an assist in the Leagues Cup versus San Luis on August 5. He missed the second Leagues Cup match due to his Jorge's passing, and Messi's emotions expressed uncertainty in its wake — Messi's father was also his agent and Lionel called Jorge "dad, friend, and representative." "I don’t know what I’m going to do without you, I don’t know how to go on," said Lionel Messi. "I only played football and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I’ll keep doing it for much longer." Lionel Messi's contract with Inter Miami runs through December 31, 2028, and some have speculated he could stretch his international career into the 2030 World Cup — Argentina will host a game at the tournament's centennial celebration. The son finished his statement with hope. "I’m going to miss you a lot, but you’ll always be present, and especially in the upbringing of my children, because I teach them and raise them the way you both did with me. Rest in peace and look after us from above the way you did down here. Thank you for everything. I love you, Dad."