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Messi MOURNS Dad Jorge in HEART-WRACKING Tribute After Tragic Loss

Lionel Messi heartfeltly honors his father Jorge after his death at 68, sharing an emotional tribute amid personal grief and football heartbreak.

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Martina Mincheva
Aug 13, 2026
1 min read
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Lionel Messi smiles while holding the FIFA World Cup trophy, wearing Argentina’s sky-blue and white jersey.

Lionel Messi, the Inter Miami and Argentina forward, shared heartfelt words on social media following the death of his father, Jorge Messi.

Jorge Messi passed away on Friday at 10 p.m. local time in a hospital in Rosario. He was 68. The funeral was held privately on August 9.

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

During the 2026 World Cup, media reported on Jorge Messi's serious illness. On the night of July 17, Argentina's national team beat Algeria 3-0 in their opening group stage match, with Messi scoring a hat-trick. After the game, he admitted he couldn't hold back tears after his first goal, having endured several difficult days. A few days later, the player's family announced that Jorge Messi was under medical supervision.