Buenos Aires: Argentina icon Lionel Messi has revealed he harbors "serious doubts" about continuing his playing career for "much longer" following the passing of his father and longtime agent, Jorge Messi.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, who currently plays for Major League Soccer side Inter Miami under a contract running through 2028, shared an emotional message on social media following his father's funeral on Sunday. Jorge Messi passed away last week at the age of 68 after a reported battle with cancer.

"I don't know what I'll do without you, I don't know how to go on. I just played football, and now I have serious doubts about continuing to do so for much longer," Messi wrote.

Emotional toll during the 2026 World Cup

The 39-year-old opened up about the emotional strain he endured during the recent 2026 World Cup in the United States, where his father's absence from the stands became a notable talking point. Despite the difficult circumstances off the pitch, Messi delivered a stellar individual campaign in his sixth World Cup appearance, scoring eight goals to lead Argentina to the final.

Recalling the tournament and his conversations with his father, Messi shared:

"You kept asking me to play in one last World Cup, yet just days before it started, your condition took a turn for the worse. It was the first time you wouldn't be there for a tournament," Messi wrote.

"I kept telling you we would reach the final so you could make the trip.

"Every time a match ended I waited for and missed your message. That's when I realised the situation was really bad.

"We made it to the final, but you couldn't be there. I wanted to win it to bring it to you and show you a new one. I couldn't, my legs just gave out.

"This time I tried to push past my physical limits, but I couldn't. I never felt right," Messi said in his first comments after the 1-0 loss to Spain in the final in New Jersey.

Following the final, Messi traveled to Rosario to spend time with his family before attending a private funeral service in Perez alongside close relatives and select national team colleagues.

Messi reflected poignantly on his return home after the final:

"When I arrived, you thought we had lost the final on penalties. We couldn't talk about anything that had happened. You couldn't enjoy any of it," he said.

"We didn't become champions, but you have no idea how much we enjoyed every match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play."

'Father, Friend and Agent'

Jorge Messi played an irreplaceable role in shaping his son's legendary career. In 2000, Jorge made the life-altering decision to leave behind his job, wife, and three other children in Argentina to move to Catalonia with a 13-year-old Lionel, ensuring the young prodigy could undergo crucial growth hormone treatment while developing at FC Barcelona's academy.

Throughout Lionel's storied career, Jorge served as his manager and agent, orchestrating high-profile deals with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami.

Paying tribute to his father's unwavering guidance, Messi wrote:

"You were a father, a friend, and an agent. You were always exactly who you needed to be in every moment, and you never put a foot wrong."

"You were always like that, right from when I was little. You'd take me to every training session as soon as you got home from work," Messi recalled.

"You never missed a single match. You suffered while watching me play, yet you enjoyed it too -- even though you never lavished me with praise.

"Rest in peace, and watch over us from above just as you did down here. Thank you for everything." (AFP)