Lionel Messi questions his future after the death of his father

Yesterday 15:00

By: Sahili Aya

Lionel Messi questions his future after the death of his father

The Argentine superstar, who turned 39 in June, addressed his grief in an emotional message published on social media on Wednesday. Beyond mourning his father, Messi acknowledged that the loss has made him reconsider how long he wants to continue playing professional football.

His comments do not amount to a formal retirement announcement, but they represent one of the clearest indications yet that the end of his extraordinary career may be approaching.

A personal loss changing his perspective

Messi's relationship with his father has been closely intertwined with his football journey. Jorge Messi was involved in his son's career from its earliest stages, accompanying him through the development of a player who would eventually become one of the most decorated figures in the history of the sport.

In his message, Messi described the difficulty of imagining life without his father and questioned how he could move forward after his death.

He also connected that grief directly to his professional future. Having spent virtually his entire life dedicated to football, the Argentine admitted that he now has doubts about continuing for much longer.

The timing of his reflection is particularly significant. Messi had previously continued his career into his late thirties, but the death of his father appears to have prompted a deeper reassessment of what remains ahead.

No immediate retirement decision

Despite the emotional nature of his statement, Messi has not announced that he is retiring.

His words instead suggest that he is confronting a question that every elite athlete eventually faces: when is the right moment to walk away?

For a player whose career has been defined by an extraordinary level of longevity, the decision carries an additional emotional dimension. Messi has spent decades on the pitch, while his father remained a constant presence throughout much of that journey.

The possibility of retirement therefore comes not only as a sporting decision but also as part of a period of profound personal change.

The end of an era may be approaching

Messi's career has already produced a record-breaking collection of individual and team achievements, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, after years of international disappointment.

At 39, every additional season represents another extension of a career that has lasted far longer than that of most professional footballers.

His latest comments nevertheless leave the door open. Messi has expressed uncertainty rather than set a date, meaning his supporters will have to wait for a clearer decision about whether he intends to continue competing.

For now, football is facing the possibility that one of its defining figures may be entering the final chapter of his career—and that the decision could be shaped as much by personal loss as by what happens on the pitch.