You will always be in my life: Messi's emotional farewell after losing his father

Lionel Messi is heartbroken following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, after a long illness. In an emotional social media message following his passing, the Argentine star expressed that he does not know how he will fill this void, while reflecting on his childhood, football career, and numerous memories with his father.

Jorge Messi passed away on August 8 at the age of 68 after battling a prolonged illness. His funeral took place in a private ceremony in Pérez, in the Santa Fe region of Rosario, Argentina.

Bidding a final farewell to his father, Messi wrote, "Dad, I still can't believe you're gone. I can't believe I won't be able to see you or talk to you anymore."

Acknowledging his father's suffering, Messi said he knows Jorge went through a lot of pain, and while his passing may have brought an end to that suffering, it felt too soon for him to leave. "We had so much more to enjoy together," Messi wrote.

Jorge stood by Messi at every crucial moment of his football career, and they shared a special emotional connection regarding the World Cup.

Messi shared that his father always wanted him to play in another World Cup. However, just days before the tournament began, Jorge's health deteriorated, and he was ultimately unable to watch any of Messi's matches in person.

Messi wrote that his mother had assured him his father would recover and be able to watch at least one match. Messi had even told his father that they would reach the final so Jorge could see him play.

Messi said, "We couldn't be champions, but you don't know how much we enjoyed every match."

Highlighting the deep bond they shared, Messi noted that despite their busy schedules, they spoke every day and met whenever possible.

"I don't know what I'll do without you, Dad, and I don't know how I'll keep playing. I only know how to play football, but now I've started to wonder how much longer I can keep playing."

"You were with me from almost the very beginning to the end. Why couldn't you try to stay just a little bit longer so we could walk the rest of the path together?"

Jorge's role in shaping Messi into a footballer was immense. From taking him to training sessions as a child to being present at every match, Jorge was involved in everything.

Recalling those memories, Messi shared that his father would take him straight to practice after returning from work and never missed a single match. While watching Messi compete sometimes made him anxious, a good performance would fill him inwardly with immense joy. However, in Messi's words, his father rarely showered him with excessive praise.

Jorge Messi was much more than just a father; he was his friend and one of the most important figures in his professional life.

Messi wrote, "He was my father, my friend, and my agent. In every moment, he always knew what to do." He also noted that even when they had arguments or disagreements, his father's advice ultimately always proved to be right.

Finally, addressing his father, Messi wrote, "Dad, I will miss you so much. But you will always be in my life, especially in the way I raise my children." He mentioned that he will follow the lessons learned from his father in bringing up his own kids.

"Rest in peace, Dad. Watch over us and protect us from above. Thank you for everything. I love you so much, Dad."

During this difficult time of mourning his father, Messi remains with his family. Currently on a break from football, the star's return date to Inter Miami remains unconfirmed.