Argentina star Messi not certain to play “much longer” after father’s death

play Live Sign upShow navigation menuNavigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle EastExplainedSportOpinionVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomyHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelSponsored Contentplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upSport|World CupArgentina star Messi not certain to play ‘much longer’ after father’s deathFormer Barcelona and PSG star Lionel Messi, who won World Cup 2022, hints at retirement. xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoArgentina's Lionel Messi reacts after the 2026 World Cup final defeat by Spain [Ashley Landis/AP]By Kevin HandPublished On 12 Aug 202612 Aug 2026Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, one of the greatest footballers to play the game, has hinted that he may soon retire from the sport after the death of his father. The 39-year-old, who was part of the Argentina side that was defeated by Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, rose to the top of the game from the youth ranks at Spanish club Barcelona. After his country’s defeat by Spain in July in New Jersey at the World Cup, Messi returned to play domestic football in the United States with Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami. The forward was forced to cut short his return after the death of his father on August 8, and he announced on Wednesday that his playing days may now be coming to an end. “All I ever did was play football, and now I have serious doubts about whether I’ll keep doing it for much longer,” Messi posted on the social media platform X. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know how to carry on. “You were by my side from the very beginning; there was so little left until the end. Why couldn’t you hold on just a little longer so we could finish it together? “I know your happiness was seeing your family doing well, your wife, your children, and above all, without the others finding out, watching me play.” Advertisement AboutAboutShow moreAbout UsCode of EthicsTerms and ConditionsEU/EEA Regulatory NoticePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCookie PreferencesAccessibility StatementSitemapWork for usConnectConnectShow moreContact UsUser Accounts HelpAdvertise with usStay ConnectedNewslettersChannel FinderTV SchedulePodcastsSubmit a TipPaid Partner ContentOur ChannelsOur ChannelsShow moreAl Jazeera ArabicAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Investigative UnitAl Jazeera MubasherAl Jazeera DocumentaryAl Jazeera BalkansAJ+Our NetworkOur NetworkShow moreAl Jazeera Centre for StudiesAl Jazeera Media InstituteLearn ArabicAl Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human RightsAl Jazeera ForumAl Jazeera Hotel PartnersFollow Al Jazeera English: