Argentina captain Lionel Messi has spoken publicly for the first time since the death of his father Jorge Messi. The 39-year-old footballer published a lengthy message in which he spoke about his father's final months, the 2026 World Cup, and admitted that after the loss he began to doubt whether to continue his career. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

"Dad, I still can't believe you're gone. I can't cope. Or rather, I don't want to accept it. It's very hard for me to imagine that we won't see each other again, that we won't talk again. I know you were suffering and maybe it was better this way, but you left too soon. We still had so much to go through together.

You so wanted me to play my last World Cup. But a few days before it started, you became very ill. For the first time, you weren't there with me at the tournament. Mom told me you would get better and be able to come. And I told you that we would definitely reach the final so you could fly in.

After every match, I waited for and missed your message. That's when I truly understood how serious everything was. But even then, I kept thinking about going as far as possible, winning you a little more time and giving you the chance to see at least one match. We reached the final, but you weren't there. I wanted to win it to bring you the trophy and show it to you. But I couldn't. My legs wouldn't obey me. This time I tried to overcome myself, but I couldn't. I never managed to feel good.

When I came back, you thought we lost the final on penalties. We couldn't talk about everything that happened. You couldn't share that joy with us. We didn't become champions, but you know how much we enjoyed every match. And, as always, you were right: this tournament had to be played.

I'm telling you all this because it's the only thing we didn't get to talk about. You already know everything else. We talked every day and saw each other whenever possible, despite my constant travels.

I don't know what I'll do without you. I don't know how to live on. I've always just played football, and now for the first time I doubt whether I can continue doing it. You were by my side from the very beginning, and there was so little left until the end. Why couldn't you hold on just a little longer, so we could reach the end together?

I know your happiness was seeing that your family was well, that your wife and grandchildren were happy. And most of all – quietly, so no one would notice – watching me play...

It's been that way since my childhood. You took me to every training session right after work. Sometimes Mom took me because you were still working.

And, of course, you never missed a single match of mine. You worried about me more than anyone and rejoiced more than anyone, although you never showered me with praise.

You were a father, a friend, and a representative to me. You always knew how to be exactly the person needed at any moment, and you never made a mistake. Yes, we argued, sometimes fought, but in the end it always turned out you were right.

I will miss you very much. But you will always be by my side, especially in raising my children, because I try to raise them the way you and Mom raised me.

Rest in peace. And continue to take care of us from heaven just as you did here. Thank you for everything.

See this post on Instagram: Post by Leo Messi (@leomessi).

Recall that Jorge Messi died on August 7 at the age of 68 in a clinic in Rosario, Argentina, after a long illness. Throughout his son's career, he remained one of his closest people and represented the footballer's interests for many years.