Cristiano Ronaldo sends emotional message to Lionel Messi after father's death
Table of Contents
 |
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Cristiano Ronaldo sent Lionel Messi a heartfelt message after his father died aged 68.
- Messi admits he has doubts over how much longer he will play football.
- Messi remains contracted to Inter Miami through the 2028 MLS season.
Jorge Messi died aged 68 in Rosario, Argentina, on 7 August after a prolonged illness.
And Ronaldo responded to Messi's emotional tribute on Instagram with a brief message.
A huge hug to you and yours in these tough times, Leo. Much strength.
Ronaldo and Messi put rivalry aside
Few sporting rivalries have been as influential as Ronaldo and Messi's.For years, the two dominated the conversation around who should be regarded as the best player in the world. Their respective careers have been closely compared, from goals and trophies to Ballon d'Or victories and Champions League records.
Yet Ronaldo's message to Messi was not about football.
It was a personal expression of sympathy from one of the few people who understands the extraordinary pressures and scrutiny that have accompanied Messi throughout his career.
Other prominent figures from the football world, including David Beckham and Neymar, have also offered messages of support following Jorge Messi's death.
Messi reveals how his father's illness affected him
Messi's tribute offered a glimpse into how heavily his father's declining health weighed on him during the FIFA 2026 World Cup.Jorge had encouraged his son to play at the tournament, but his health deteriorated just days before it began. Messi said his father had hoped to travel to watch him, but ultimately was not well enough to attend.
After each match, Messi would wait for a message from his father. When those messages became increasingly difficult to receive, he realised just how serious Jorge's condition had become.
Even so, Messi continued to push Argentina towards the latter stages of the tournament, hoping to give his father more time to see him play.
Argentina eventually reached the World Cup final against Spain but lost 1-0 after extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute.
Messi later reflected that he had tried to push through the physical strain but never felt completely right during the tournament.
'I don't know how to carry on'
The most significant part of Messi's tribute was not about the World Cup, however, but about what comes next.The 39-year-old admitted that losing his father has left him questioning his future in football.
I don't know what I'm going to do without you. I don't know how to move forward. I only played football and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I'm going to keep doing it for much longer.Messi also wrote about how close he and Jorge had remained and questioned why his father could not have stayed a little longer so they could finish his football journey together.
The comments have inevitably fuelled speculation about retirement.
Jorge Messi's influence on Lionel’s career
For Messi, Jorge was far more than his father.He was one of the central figures behind the footballer's development, taking him to training sessions as a youngster and following his career throughout his rise from Rosario to Barcelona and eventually to the international stage.
Messi described his father as his "dad, my friend and my representative," recalling how Jorge was always there for him and rarely failed to offer an opinion when it mattered.
The tribute also showed how deeply Messi intends to carry his father's influence into the next generation.
He wrote that Jorge would remain present in the way he raises his own children, passing on the values and lessons he learned from him.
Messi ended the emotional tribute with three simple words:
I love you, Dad.
What happens next for Messi?
Messi's immediate future is now difficult to predict.He remains contracted to Inter Miami until 2028 and has previously indicated a desire to continue playing whilst he feels physically capable. But his latest tribute makes clear that the question of what comes after football has taken on a much more personal meaning.
Whether Messi continues until the end of his current contract, retires sooner or eventually decides to represent Argentina again remains unknown.
For now, the immediate story is not retirement. It is grief.
Post a Comment