Lionel Messi, the Argentine football legend, decided to suspend his football career indefinitely, after the death of his father Jorge Messi at the age of 68 in a clinic in the city of Rosario following a long battle with illness, in a heavy loss that left a great void in Leo's life.
According to the French website "Foot Mercato", citing reports from the Argentine press, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner decided to suspend his professional commitments to support his loved ones during this difficult period, without specifying a date for his return to Inter Miami, which clearly indicates that football has become second in his priorities.
Jorge Messi was not just a father, but the first advisor, agent, and supporter of his son since his beginnings in the world of football, as he was present alongside Lionel in every decisive stage of his rise, starting from Newell's Old Boys club, and later during his transfer to Spain, making the necessary sacrifices to enable his son to achieve his dream, and contributing behind the scenes to shaping one of the most wonderful destinies in the history of football.
Jorge Messi's health was a source of great concern for his family during the last World Cup held in the United States, where the Argentine star's personal situation affected him greatly despite the distance and the pressures of the tournament, and many photos at that time testified to the overwhelming emotions that gripped the captain of the Argentine national team when he spoke about his family and the difficulties his father was facing.
After learning the devastating news, Messi immediately cut his professional commitments with Inter Miami to return to Argentina and be with his family, where the funeral was held in complete secrecy in Rosario, in a very painful moment for the player who has since chosen to stay with his family without specifying a date for returning to the United States.
Reports indicate that the priority now is for the Messi family, supported by his mother, siblings, wife, and children, and it is also expected that a number of Argentine national team players will visit him, including Leandro Paredes, Nicolás Otamendi, and Ángel Di María, to offer support, which shows how important Jorge Messi was in his son's life and the special place that the Messi family holds in Argentine football.
In this context, the future of Lionel Messi's professional career raises many questions, as the Argentine press has already begun speculating about the possibility of him stopping playing for an indefinite period, as Inter Miami's star has not given any indication so far about the date of his return to the pitches.
As he approaches his thirty-ninth year, Messi finds himself in an unprecedented moment in his brilliant career, where the priority is no longer purely sporting, but has become very personal, and although there is nothing that currently allows us to say categorically that Messi has decided to retire from football, his choice to suspend his commitments indefinitely opens the door to a period of uncertainty.
After dedicating more than twenty years to the highest levels, the Argentine can now take the necessary time before deciding whether he wants to continue his American adventure or distance himself further from football.
