Ronaldo reacts as Messi breaks silence on father’s death

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has shared an emotional tribute to his late father, Jorge Messi, revealing how his final wish inspired him to play in one last FIFA World Cup despite personal heartbreak and physical struggles.

Jorge passed away last week at the age of 68 in Argentina.

Taking to his Instagram page on Wednesday, 39-year-old Messi recalled that his father had repeatedly urged him to feature in one more World Cup before his health deteriorated just days before the tournament began.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said it was the first major international tournament where his father was unable to support him, while his mother remained hopeful that he would recover in time to attend the latter stages of the competition.

The Inter Miami captain said he made it his mission to help Argentina reach the World Cup final, believing that doing so would give his father enough time to recover and travel to watch him play.

He wrote: “Dad, you kept asking me to play in one last World Cup. Just days before it began was when your condition got worse.

“It was the first time you weren’t going to be there with me at tournament, but Mom kept telling me you were going to get better and that you’d be well enough to travel.

“I kept telling you we were going to reach the World Cup final so you could make the trip, this was my mission once again.

“After every match, I waited for and missed your message. That’s when I realized how serious the situation really was.”

Messi admitted that the emotional burden weighed heavily on him throughout the tournament, saying he pushed himself beyond his physical limits in a bid to honour his father’s wish.

Messi added: “I couldn’t stop thinking about going as far as possible, give you more time and the chance to watch one of the games.

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“We reached the final, but you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it so I could bring the trophy to you and show you another one. I couldn’t.

“My legs just couldn’t give me any more.

“This time I tried to push beyond what my body could handle, but I couldn’t. I never managed to feel physically right.”

Although Argentina fell short of lifting the trophy, Messi said the journey was deeply meaningful, adding that he fulfilled his father’s final wish by representing his country once more on football’s biggest stage.

“We didn’t become champions, Dad, but you have no idea how much we enjoyed every match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play in it, as you told me, always,” the Argentina captain stated.

Reacting to the post, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo commiserated with Messi on his father’s demise.

“A huge hug to you and your loves ones in these tough times, Leo. Much strength,” Ronaldo wrote.