Lionel Messi pays a heartbreaking tribute to his father, Jorge, who passed away on August 3 at the age of 68

A few days after his passing, the football legend shared a long and deeply personal message, reflecting on their relationship, their memories together, and the immense place his father held in his life far beyond football.

“Dad, I still can’t believe that you’re gone. I can’t accept it, or rather, I don’t want to accept it. It’s incredibly hard for me to imagine that I’ll never see you again, that we’ll never talk again. I know you were suffering, and I know that in a way this is better, but you left too soon. We still had so many things left to live and share together.

You wanted me so badly to play in the last World Cup, and just a few days before it began, that was when your condition became much worse. It was the first time you weren’t going to be there for a tournament, but Mom kept telling me that you would get better and be strong enough to travel. I told you we would make it to the final so you could come.

After every match, I kept waiting for your message. That was when I realized how serious the situation really was. Even so, I couldn’t stop thinking about going as far as possible, to buy you time and give you a chance to see at least one match.

We reached the final, and you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it so I could bring the trophy to you and show it to you one more time. I couldn’t do it. My legs simply wouldn’t respond. For the first time, I tried to push my body beyond its limits, and I couldn’t. I never managed to feel right.

When I arrived, you thought we had lost the final on penalties. We never had the chance to talk about everything that had happened. You never got to enjoy any of it. We didn’t become champions, but I don’t know how much we truly enjoyed every single match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play it.

I’m telling you all of this because it’s the one thing we never got the chance to talk about, because for everything else, you already know. We spoke every day, and I saw you whenever my commitments allowed me to.

I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know how to keep going. All I ever did was play football, and now I have many doubts about how much longer I want to keep doing it.

You were by my side from the very beginning, and there was so little time left until the end. Why couldn’t you hold on just a little longer so we could finish this journey together?

I know your greatest happiness was seeing your family, your wife, your children doing well, and above all, though no one really knew it, watching me play football. Ever since I was a little boy, it was always like that. You took me to every training session whenever you got home from work. Many times Mom took me because you were still working. But you never missed one of my matches. You suffered so much while watching me play, and you enjoyed it so much too, even though you rarely gave me many compliments.

You were my father, my friend, and my representative. You were always exactly the person I needed you to be at every moment, and you were never wrong about anything. Even when we argued or disagreed, you were always right. In the end, things always happened exactly as you said they would.

I’m going to miss you more than words can ever say, but you will always be with me, especially in the way I raise my children, because I’m teaching and raising them the way you and Mom raised me.

Rest in peace, and watch over us from above, just as you always did here. Thank you for everything. I love you, Dad.”

These heartbreaking words reveal that Jorge Messi was far more than a father in Lionel Messi’s life. He was his childhood support, his closest friend, his representative, and one of his most loyal supporters. Their bond, forged long before stadiums, trophies, and worldwide fame, will now live on through memories and through the values Messi hopes to pass on to his own children.

Our deepest thoughts are with Lionel Messi and his entire family during this painful time. May Jorge Messi rest in peace.