Lionel Messi bids farewell to father Jorge with emotional letter

Lionel Messi published an emotional letter on Instagram on Tuesday bidding farewell to his father, Jorge Messi, who died at age 68. The Argentine football captain shared an image alongside his father and dedicated heartfelt words to him following a private ceremony held Sunday at a cemetery near Rosario.

The family chose to keep the farewell private. After spending the weekend in his hometown, Messi returned to the United States in the early hours of Wednesday and decided to publish a text that serves as both a tribute to his father and a window into his current emotional state.

In the letter, Messi wrote: "I still cannot believe you are gone." He expressed the difficulty of imagining life without his father, saying he struggled to accept that they would no longer see each other or speak again. "I know you were suffering and that it was for the best, but you left too soon," Messi wrote, according to the sources.

The 39-year-old footballer also reflected on moments that remained unshared between them. In the letter, he revealed one of his father's final wishes, though the full details of that desire were not disclosed in available reports.

Messi described his emotional state with candid language rarely seen from the player. "I cannot fall, or rather, I do not want to fall," he wrote, speaking openly about his profound grief. He also stated: "I do not know how to continue without you," conveying the depth of his loss.

The letter acknowledged his father's role throughout his career and their years together. Jorge Messi had been a significant presence in his son's life and professional journey as captain of the Argentine national team.