Lionel Messi has revealed that he is unsure about continuing his football career for much longer after the loss of his father, Jorge Messi.
After Jorge died last week at the age of 68 from a protracted illness, the Argentina captain paid an emotional tribute on social media.
Jorge was a key figure in Messi’s career, acting as an agent for his son since he was 14 years old.
The Inter Miami forward admitted that his father’s death has left him unable to contemplate life without him.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you,” Messi wrote.
“I don’t know how to carry on. I used to just play football, and now I’m really not sure if I’ll carry on doing it for much longer.”
The statements cast doubt on the future of one of football’s most accomplished players, but Messi has not announced his retirement.
The 39-year-old has continued to play at the top level with Inter Miami since leaving European football and transferring to Major League Soccer.
His father was heavily involved in his career from Barcelona’s academy to becoming one of the most successful football players in history.