Messi rend un hommage poignant à son père Jorge après sa disparition tragique.

Dad, I still can't believe you're gone. I can't understand it, or rather I don't want to understand it. It's so hard for me to imagine that I'll never see you again, never talk to you again. I know you were suffering, and that was the best for you, but you left too soon. We had so many things to enjoy together. You begged me so much to play in the last World Cup, but a few days before it started, you got seriously ill. That was the first tournament you weren't there for. But Mom kept telling me that you would get better and that you could come. I told you we'd reach the final so you could make it. After every match, I was waiting for your message, and I really missed you. That's when I realised the situation was really serious. But despite everything, I kept thinking about getting as far as possible, to give you the time and chance to see at least one game. We made it to the final, but you still couldn't make it. I wanted to win it, yes... To bring you victory and show you another trophy. But I couldn't – my legs wouldn't listen anymore. This time I tried to defy my physical state, but it didn't work. I never felt normal again. When I arrived, you thought we lost the final on penalties. We never got to talk about everything that happened. You couldn't enjoy anything. We didn't become champions, but you can't imagine how much we enjoyed every game. And again, you were right: I had to be there and play. I'm telling you this because it's the only thing we never got to talk about. You already know everything else. We talked every day and saw each other when my schedule allowed. I don't know what I'll do without you; I don't know how to go on. I spent my whole life just playing football, and now I have so many doubts about whether I can keep doing it for much longer. You were with me from the very beginning and left just a little before the end. Why? Couldn't you hold on a little longer so we could finish this journey together? I know your happiness was seeing your family do well: your wife, your kids, and especially – just so nobody else knows – watching me play. It has been like that since I was a kid. You drove me to all my training sessions, barely having time to get home from work. My mom took me to many of my trainings because you were at work. And, of course, you never missed my matches. How you worried about me when I played and how you were happy, even though you never spoiled me with compliments. You were my father, my friend, and my agent. At every moment, you were exactly who you had to be, and you were never wrong. Despite some reproaches and arguments, in the end, you were always right. Everything ended exactly as you said. I will miss you a lot, but you will always be with me. Especially in how I raise my kids, because I teach and raise them the same way you raised me. Rest in peace and watch over us. From above, just as you did here. Thank you for everything. I love you, Dad

— Lionel Messi