Lionel Messi has expressed uncertainty about his football career following the death of his father Jorge Messi at age 68 after a long illness. In an emotional social media post, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner wrote: "I don't know how to carry on. I used to just play football, and now I'm really not sure if I'll carry on doing it for much longer." Messi served as Argentina captain at the 2026 World Cup, where they lost the final to Spain. He now plays for Inter Miami. A private funeral was held in Perez, Argentina.

Messi revealed that his father had urged him to play in one last World Cup, but fell ill before the tournament. He said he tried to push through physical limits to win for his father, but could not. He added: "I wanted to win it so I could bring the trophy to you and show you a new one. I couldn't." He also noted that his father never missed a game and was his mentor.

Following Messi's tribute, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham sent messages of support. Messi's contract with Inter Miami runs until 2028, but his future now appears uncertain.