Lionel Messi lost his father on August 8. Jorge Messi, his dad and, for years, his agent too, passed away at 68 in Rosario after being sick for a while. “Te amo, pa” is what the international star penned on his social media a few days later, but the weight of the grief is incomprehensible. Now, three weeks later, the Argentine has penned down his feelings with news that left fans shattered. 

On Monday, Messi shared a photo of a handwritten note on Instagram, confirming the end of his Argentina career. He claims that he wrote the message on July 21, two days after the World Cup final, and said the death of his father, Jorge, in early August left him “more convinced than before” that it was time to retire.

“After the time that has passed since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the national team,” he wrote. “It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deeply, but I understand that the time has come. I swear that I always gave everything, not only in the recent years when we won it all, but before that as well. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you joy and make you proud to be Argentine through football.

But he added a footnote that explained why he was posting it now.

“I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my father, I am more convinced than before.”

Jorge Messi’s death became public on August 9. According to reports, the 68-year-old passed at 2 a.m. on August 8 at Sanatorio Centro in Rosario. His family did not publicly discuss the exact nature of his illness, though the medical center confirmed he had been undergoing treatment for a prolonged health issue. Lionel returned to Rosario, the city he called home before football took him around the world, to be with his family and pay his respects.

The loss reached far beyond the usual father-son relationship as Jorge had served as Lionel’s longtime representative and helped shape the path that began when his son was 14. Years earlier, he had opened the door to Argentina’s football scene for a young Lionel. Then, in 2000, he crossed the Atlantic with his 13-year-old son so he could join Barcelona, taking a major risk without financial security.

Back in Rosario, Jorge worked as a supervisor at a steel manufacturing plant, while Celia Messi worked at a small shop that produced magnetic coils. The family had limited means, but Jorge stayed at the center of Lionel’s life as his talent began to change everything.

Days after his father’s passing, Messi shared a personal message on social media that began, “Te amo, pa,” [meaning “I love you, Dad.”] The tribute revealed what he was carrying as he tried to imagine life, and perhaps football, without the man who had been there from the start.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know how to go on. I only played football, and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I’ll keep doing it for much longer.” [translation via Fabrizio Romano]

Today, in his message, Messi was clear that he had given Argentina everything he had and more over his two decades with the team.

“There is not much time left, and chapters are coming to an end,” he added. “This is one that hurts me deeply. I love, loved, and will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had. I have nothing more to give, and there are also great young players coming through who deserve to be there. Thank you for all the affection over these 20 years. I will miss hearing you from inside the stadium. Now I will be one of you, always cheering and supporting from the outside, in the good times and the bad, even more so in the bad.

“Thank you to my family for always being there and for accompanying me on this beautiful but difficult journey. Thank you to every coach, teammate, and official I had the chance to share it with. I leave with unforgettable memories and moments. I go with the peace and pride of knowing that, together with my teammates, we gave you dreamlike moments. It was crazy to experience it with all of you. I love you all!”

Fans didn’t hold back on that same Instagram post. The comments were full of farewells, gratitude, and a lot of people who just seemed heartbroken.

Lionel Messi fans face harsh reality of star’s retirement

“THE GAME WILL NEVER BE THE SAME 💔😢,” a fan wrote. 

Messi walks away as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 125 goals in 207 appearances. That includes the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 World Cup, and a second Copa title in 2024. For more than two decades, fans watched him turn tight games with a left-footed finish, a pass nobody else spotted, or a run that pulled an entire defense apart.

Fans also know the journey was never simple, as Messi endured years of near-misses before lifting the 2021 Copa America, then captaining Argentina to the 2022 World Cup. A second Copa América title followed in 2024, and he took Argentina to another World Cup final in 2026.

“That’s Hurt Leo,” another fan commented.

It echoed Messi’s own words about a decision. His last game for Argentina was the 2026 World Cup final against Spain, a 1-0 extra-time defeat. It was a painful way to end a remarkable international run, but it did not erase everything that came before it.

“Thank you Leo for sharing your magic with us 😭🤍,” one more heartfelt message read.

There was plenty of magic to remember as Lionel Messi played at six World Cups, scored 21 goals in the tournament, and made 34 World Cup appearances. He also became the only player to win the World Cup Golden Ball twice, taking the award in 2014 and 2022. Those were the moments fans came back for: the dribbles, the impossible passes, the calm finishes and the feeling that Argentina always had a chance with No. 10 on the pitch.

“Gracias Leo, we love you forever❤️,” a fan wrote.

Let’s not forget that Messi did more than score goals and lift trophies for Argentina. He made the biggest stage his own. Across six World Cups, he played a record 34 matches, scored 21 times, and supplied 12 assists, the most in tournament history. He also became the first player to register an assist at six different World Cups.

“Sad to see it end, but we were lucky enough to live in the same lifetime as the greatest ever and witness him do what only he could 🐐”

He will remain with Inter Miami, where he is under contract through the end of the 2028 MLS season. The 39-year-old signed the extension in October 2025, meaning his focus now shifts fully to club football after more than two decades in Argentina colors.

For a generation raised on Messi’s Argentina run, the retirement closes a chapter few expected to end this way.