Lionel Messi has shared a heartfelt tribute to his father, Jorge Messi, who died Aug. 7 in their hometown of Rosario, Argentina, at 68. The 39-year-old soccer star posted his message on Instagram on Aug. 12, five days after his father’s death.
Messi’s message
Writing in Spanish, Messi said he still couldn’t believe his father was gone. He wrote that his dad had been suffering, but that he still left too soon. He recalled that his father had urged him to play one more World Cup, then fell seriously ill just days before the tournament. It was the first time his father couldn’t be there, and Messi said he’d promised to reach the final so his dad could come.
In one of the most striking parts of the post, Messi admitted he now has serious doubts about how much longer he’ll keep playing, because his father had been with him from the very beginning. He ended by saying he’ll carry his father’s lessons into how he raises his own children.
More than a father
Jorge Messi was also his son’s longtime agent and business manager. Newell’s Old Boys, Lionel’s first club, paid tribute to him and thanked him for teaching his son to love the club.
The family had announced in June that Jorge was under medical care and improving, and they criticized what they called insensitive speculation about a private matter. During the 2026 World Cup, Messi became emotional after scoring in Argentina’s opening match. He later said he had been going through difficult days for reasons unrelated to soccer.
Our take
Behind one of the greatest careers in sports was a father who managed his career and stood by him from the very beginning. Messi’s post is a reminder that even global icons grieve like everyone else, and his hint about retirement shows how much his father meant to his love of the game.
