Lionel Messi has not announced his retirement, but he has cast serious doubt on how much longer he will continue playing.
In an emotional Instagram tribute to his father, Jorge, who died on 8 August, the Argentina captain wrote: “I only played football, and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I’m going to keep doing it for much longer.”
The message leaves Inter Miami facing uncertainty over their biggest player and their plans for the rest of the season.
Messi Opens Up About His Father's Death
"Dad, I still can't believe that you've gone. I don't fall, or rather, I don't want to fall. It's very hard for me to imagine that I'm not going to see you anymore, that we're not going to talk anymore. I know you were suffering and that it's for the best, but you left too soon. We still had a lot left to enjoy together.
"You asked me so much to play in the last World Cup, and it was in the days just before it started that you got the worst. It was the first time you weren't going to be at a tournament, but Mom told me that you were going to get better and that you'd be well enough to travel. I told you we were going to reach the final so you could travel.
"Every time a match ended I waited for and missed your message. That's when I realized the situation was really bad. Even so, I didn't stop thinking about going as far as possible, to buy you time and so you could see a match. We reached the final and 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 wouldn't give any more. This time I tried to go against my body, but I couldn't. I never managed to feel good.
"When I arrived you thought we had lost the final on penalties. We couldn't talk about any of everything that happened. You couldn't enjoy anything. We weren't champions, but you have no idea how much we enjoyed every single match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play it.
"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.
"You were by my side from the beginning; there was so little left until the end. Why couldn't you hold on that little bit more so we could finish together?
"You were dad, friend and representative. You were always the person you needed to be in every moment and you never got anything wrong. In the end it always turned out the way you said.
"I'm going to miss you a lot, but you'll always be present, and especially in the upbringing of my children, because I teach them and raise them the way you both did with me. Rest in peace and look after us from above the way you did down here. Thank you for everything. I love you, Dad."
When Could Messi Return to Inter Miami?
Messi was not expected to feature against Club Leon on Wednesday, with the turnaround considered too soon after his father’s death. Saturday’s MLS match away to Nashville SC remains possible, although there is no indication that Inter Miami are rushing his return.
The next realistic opportunity may be the 19 August fixture against Philadelphia Union, which would give Messi almost two weeks with Antonela and their sons before a potential return to competitive action.
Inter Miami have not confirmed a return date. Messi’s own message suggests he has yet to decide whether or when he will resume playing.
How Jorge Messi Shaped Lionel's Life and His Children's Future
Messi's three boys, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, are all currently in Inter Miami's academy setup. Jorge Messi spent a decade serving as Lionel's primary agent and business manager.
Messi wrote that his father drove him to every training session straight from work, that his mother covered the sessions Jorge couldn't, and that his dad "never missed a single match" despite rarely handing out a compliment.
Jorge Messi’s influence extended beyond contracts and football decisions. He was the father who helped establish the values Messi now wants to pass on to Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro.
“I want to raise my children the way you and Mum raised me,” Messi wrote. His playing career may soon change, but that part of Jorge’s legacy will continue.
Neymar has already ended his Brazil career after the team’s last-16 defeat, while Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup was his last, even though he remains with Al-Nassr. Messi hasn't announced anything close to that.
But for the first time, in his own writing to his father, he's admitted the thought is sitting there.
What Would Messi's Retirement Mean for Inter Miami?
Messi remains Inter Miami’s leading scorer in 2026, with 13 goals across all competitions according to the latest available figures. He is also the club’s main attacking outlet as they defend their MLS Cup title and settle into a full season at the new Nu Stadium.
None of that would be easy to replace mid-season, let alone permanently. Messi’s value to Inter Miami goes beyond his goals. His arrival drove up ticket demand, sponsorship interest, social-media reach, and broadcast audiences.
There's a sporting cost too. Inter Miami are competing near the top of the Eastern Conference under Guillermo Hoyos, with Rodrigo De Paul adding experience in midfield and Luis Suarez still contributing when available.
Even so, Messi remains the team's central attacking figure, making any uncertainty over his future significant for both the squad and the club's long-term planning. He has not said he is retiring.
He has only admitted that he does not know how much longer he will continue playing.
But even a partial step back, whether that's fewer minutes, skipping Leagues Cup fixtures, or easing out of MLS duty altogether, would force Inter Miami to rethink their plans for the rest of this season and beyond.
