Lionel Messi has said he had not yet fully come to terms with his father’s death.
Recall that the father of the Inter Miami captain passed away earlier in the week at the age of 68.
In his first public statement since the personal loss, the Argentina captain took to Instagram to share an emotional message.
Messi said he has not yet fully come to terms with the news, and revealed that his father had urged him to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
He stated, “Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone. It hasn’t sunk in, or rather, I don’t want it to. It’s so hard for me to imagine that I’m never going to see you again, that we’re never going to talk again. I know you were suffering and that this is for the best, but you left us far too soon. We still had so much left to enjoy together.”
Lionel Messi indicated that his father’s health was deteriorating during the FIFA World Cup, as he was unable to receive messages from him after the matches this summer. He shared that the sole motivation for his determination in each game was to fulfil his father’s wish and added:
He said, “You kept asking me to play in one last World Cup, and just days before it began was when your condition got worse. It was the first time you weren’t going to be there with me at a tournament, but Mom kept telling me you were going to get better and that you’d be well enough to travel. I kept telling you we were going to reach the final so you could make the trip.”
The Argentina captain stated that his father was unaware of the results, yet he consistently found ways to connect with him whenever possible. He did not question every facet of life, as his father was instrumental in all his pursuits.
He went on, “After each match, I anticipated and longed for your message. That was when I truly understood the gravity of the situation.
“Nevertheless, I could not cease contemplating how far I could go, to provide you with more time and the opportunity to witness one of the games. We made it to the final, but you were not there. I wished to win it so that I could bring the trophy to you and present you with another one. I was unable to do so.
“I share this with you because it is the sole subject we never had the chance to discuss. You are already aware of everything else. We communicated on a daily basis and met whenever my responsibilities allowed. I am uncertain about how to move forward without you. I do not know how to carry on. My entire existence has been centred around football, and now I harbour significant doubts about whether I will continue for much longer.
Messi contemplated how his parents divided the responsibilities of his football training and matches, adding, “You were with me from the very beginning, and there was so little time remaining until the end. Why could you not hold on just a little longer so we could complete this journey together? I recognise that your happiness came from witnessing your family flourish, your wife, your children and, most importantly, from watching me play, even if no one else was aware of it…
“This arrangement has existed since my childhood. You took me to every training session as soon as you returned home from work. Mom also accompanied me to many sessions because you were occupied with work. And of course, you never missed a single match. You endured so much pain watching me, yet you also derived immense joy from it, even though you seldom offered me much praise.
“I’m going to miss you so much, but you’ll always be present, especially in the way I raise my children, because I teach them and raise them the way you and mom raised me. Rest in peace and watch over us from above, just as you did here. Thank you for everything. I love you, Dad.”
‘I’ve serious doubts about continuing football’ – Lionel Messi finally speaks on father’s death