Argentine star Lionel Messi raised questions about his continued playing of football and the possibility of retirement, after his emotional message that he published on social media, following the death of his father.
Messi lost his father, who passed away at the age of 68, after a battle with illness, as his health condition deteriorated severely during the World Cup tournament.
The Spanish newspaper "Marca" commented on Messi's message, noting that he hints at the approaching end of his football career, which may be in its final stages.
It stated that his talk about his father's passing and linking it to his football career indicates that the matter goes beyond a mere message of condolence, leaving the door open to the possibility of Messi's retirement.
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Messi wrote in his message: "I was only playing football, and now I have serious doubts about my ability to continue doing so for much longer."
Messi now plays for Inter Miami in the United States, and has not announced his retirement from international play with the Argentine national team yet.
However, his words point to the possibility that the end of his football career is approaching, and "Marca" reports that the loss of his father, who was his main support since the beginning of his career, has led him to question the point of continuing a football career in its final stages, especially as he is 39 years old.