Lionel Messi Expresses Doubt Over Football Career in Emotional Tribute to Late Father
16 sources across 10 countries · 1 of them is linked to a state
Who reported this
- elDiarioAR
- Infobae
- La Nacion
- UOL
- CNN Brasil
- Folha de S.Paulo
- Der Spiegel
- Frankfurter Allgemeine
- The Guardian
- BBC News
- La Tercera
- El Espectador
- Le Monde
- The Indian Express
- Al Jazeera
- El Pais
What the colours mean
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- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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Lionel Messi has expressed uncertainty about continuing his professional football career following the death of his father, Jorge Messi. In an extensive post on Instagram published Wednesday, the 39 year old Inter Miami forward wrote that he has many doubts about whether he will continue playing for much longer, stating that he does not know how to go on without his father. Jorge Messi died last Saturday at the age of 68 in a clinic in Rosario, Argentina, after battling an illness.
In his letter, Messi revealed the emotional toll his father's health had on him during the 2026 World Cup. He noted that his father had urged him to play in the tournament despite his deteriorating condition. Messi shared that he pushed his physical limits to reach the final in hopes that his father could travel to see a match, but Jorge was unable to attend. Messi admitted that his legs could not hold up and that he never felt physically or emotionally well during the final, which Argentina lost 1 to 0 against Spain.
Messi described his father as a father, friend, and representative who was by his side from the beginning of his career. He recalled how Jorge took him to every training session as a child and never missed a game. Following the post, several prominent figures offered their condolences, including Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, and FC Barcelona.
Reports vary slightly on the timeline and details of the event. Some sources specify that a private funeral took place on Sunday in the town of Perez, while others focus on Messi's return to the United States on Tuesday night. While most outlets focus on the emotional weight of the letter, some center right outlets emphasize the specific questioning of his continuity in the sport as the primary news angle.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- These outlets focused on the emotional narrative of the letter and the intimate bond between Messi and his father.
- Centre
- These outlets provided a balanced account, combining the emotional tribute with factual details about the death and the reactions of other athletes.
- Centre-right
- These outlets highlighted the potential retirement of Messi as the lead story, framing the event around the impact on his professional future.
Sources
- Centre-left Al Jazeera: Argentina star Messi not certain to play ‘much longer’ after father’s death
- Centre BBC News: Messi unsure he will play 'much longer' after father's death
- Centre CNN Brasil: “A huge hug for you”: CR7 shows solidarity in Messi's post for his father
- Centre CNN Brasil: Messi says goodbye to father with emotional text: "Thank you for everything"
- Centre-left Der Spiegel: Football: Lionel Messi says goodbye to father and hints at end of career
- Centre-left El Espectador: “I still cannot believe that you are gone”, the heartfelt message from Lionel Messi to his father
- Centre-left El Pais: Leo Messi says goodbye to his father with a moving letter: "I do not know how to continue"
- Centre Folha de S.Paulo: Messi says he has 'many doubts' about continuing to play for 'much longer'
- Centre-right Frankfurter Allgemeine: After death of father: Messi mourns and doubts his future
- Centre-right Infobae: Cristiano Ronaldo sent a message to Lionel Messi after the death of his father
- Centre-right Infobae: Messages of support to Lionel Messi from Beckham, Di María, Paredes and other football figures after the farewell to his father
- Centre-right La Nacion: Lionel Messi: “I have quite a few doubts...”, and ten other phrases he wrote to his father in a letter
- Centre-right La Nacion: The reaction of the world's newspapers to the farewell letter of Lionel Messi for his father, Jorge
- Centre-right La Nacion: Lionel Messi published a letter after the death of his father Jorge: what the full text says
- Centre-right La Nacion: Lionel Messi questioned his continuity in football in the farewell letter to his father, Jorge
- Centre-right La Nacion: The photo Messi chose in the farewell letter to his father, Jorge
- Centre-right La Nacion: The messages of support for Lionel Messi after the farewell letter to his father: from Beckham and Ronaldo to La Sole and Marley
- Centre-right La Nacion: From Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi: "A huge hug in these hard moments, Leo, much strength"
- Centre-right La Nacion: Lionel Messi published a heartfelt message to say goodbye to his father
- Centre-right La Tercera: The heartfelt message from Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi after the death of his father
- Centre-right La Tercera: Lionel Messi evaluates retirement from football in a heartfelt letter dedicated to his father: “I don't know how to continue”
- Centre-left Le Monde: Lionel Messi announces he is not certain to play "much longer" after the death of his father
- Centre-left The Guardian: Lionel Messi has ‘quite a few doubts’ about football future after death of his father
- Centre The Indian Express: ‘Don’t know what I’m going to do without you’: Messi on his late father Jorge
- Centre-left UOL: Messi says he has 'many doubts' about continuing to play for 'much longer'
- Centre-left elDiarioAR: Messi's letter to say goodbye to his father: "I have quite a few doubts that I will continue playing for much longer"
- Centre-left elDiarioAR: Messi returned to the United States after saying goodbye to his father in Rosario
100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.