Messi Puts Career on Hold Following Death of Father Jorge
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has left Inter Miami and returned to Argentina. A private funeral was held in Rosario, and national teammates are coming to offer their support.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has left Inter Miami and returned to Argentina. A private funeral was held in Rosario, and national teammates are coming to offer their support.
Lionel Messi, football icon and captain of Argentina, has indefinitely suspended his professional career following the death of his father, Jorge. Jorge Messi passed away at the age of 68 in a clinic in Rosario after a long illness, with the news being reported on Tuesday by French sports media outlet Foot Mercato.
Upon receiving the tragic news, the 39-year-old Inter Miami forward immediately left his American club and returned to his homeland. The family organized a private funeral service in Rosario, where Messi was surrounded by his mother, siblings, wife, and children. Foot Mercato reports that the player has put all club commitments on hold to be with his family and has not yet set a date for his return to MLS matches.
Jorge Messi was much more than a father, he was his son's chief advisor and agent from the very beginning of his career. He guided him from Newell's Old Boys through the historic transfer to Spain and remained a constant source of support during all major tournaments and contract negotiations over the past two decades. His illness deeply affected the Argentine captain, which was evident during the recent 2026 World Cup in the United States, where observers noted his emotional state when speaking about his father's health issues.
Several national teammates plan to visit Messi to express their condolences. Among them are Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria, and Nicolas Otamendi, with whom he shared unforgettable moments on the pitch, including the historic triumph at the 2022 World Cup. Their support underscores the strong personal bonds within the Argentine national team.
Argentine media have already begun speculating about a possible permanent retirement, but Messi has not made any official statement about definitively ending his playing career. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, who joined Inter Miami in 2023 and quickly turned them into title contenders, now faces an unprecedented moment in his storied career. He will take the necessary time to decide whether to continue his American adventure or step away entirely.
