Messi grieves father's death; Ronaldo sends condolences

Lionel Messi published an emotional letter Wednesday, days after his father Jorge died on Saturday. In the message posted to Instagram, the Argentine forward reflected on his relationship with his father and expressed uncertainty about continuing his professional career.

Messi described his father as "dad, friend and representative" and recalled conversations about the 2026 World Cup. "You asked me so much to play the last World Cup, and just days before it started was when you got worse. It was the first time you wouldn't be at a tournament, but mom told me you would get better and be well to travel. I told you we would reach the final so you could travel," Messi wrote in part of the letter.

The 39-year-old forward expressed his grief and confusion about continuing without his father's presence. "I don't know what I'll do without you, I don't know how to continue. I only played football and now I have many doubts that I will continue doing it for much longer. You were by my side from the beginning, there was so little left until the end. Why didn't you hold on a little longer and we finished together?" he wrote.

Messi acknowledged the difficulty of imagining life without his father. "Dad, I still can't believe you're gone. I can't, or rather, I don't want to fall. It's very hard for me to imagine that I won't see you anymore, that we won't talk anymore. I know you were suffering and that it's for the best, but you left too soon. We still had so much left to enjoy together," he said in the letter.

The forward indicated he would reassess his future in professional football. "I only played football and now I have quite a few doubts that I will continue doing it for much longer," Messi stated.

Messi returned to Miami after saying goodbye to his father in Rosario. Multiple personalities offered condolences in the comments section of his post.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi's longtime sporting rival, responded to the letter with a message of support. "A huge hug for you and yours in these difficult moments, Leo. Much strength," Ronaldo wrote on Instagram.