Lionel Messi’s emotional tribute to late father draws Piers Morgan's heartfelt response

Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, passed away on August 8, 2026, at the age of 68 in a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina, following a prolonged illness.

In the memory of his beloved father, Messi penned down a heartfelt and emotional message to honour his contributions and memories. The letter recalls how Argentina football star’s father supported and trained him throughout his career.

In his letter, Messi wrote, “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.”

He also shared the heartbreak of playing in the World Cup while his father was critically ill and how he desperately wanted to reach the finals so his father could recover and watch him, promising him they would make it.

“I’m telling you this because it was the only thing we couldn’t talk about, since you already know everything else. We talked every day and saw each other whenever we could, given my commitments.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​”

“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,” Messi added heartbreakingly.

Messi also reminisces about how his father dedicated his life to supporting his football career, taking him to training sessions after long workdays and acting as a father, friend and manager all at once.

“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.”

Such an emotional letter also drew a heart-warming response from Piers Morgan.

Taking to X, he posted, “Incredibly moving tribute from a son to his father.”