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Lionel Messi has publicly addressed the loss of his father, Jorge Messi, who passed away on August 8 at the age of 68. The Argentine football icon shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, marking his first public response since his father’s death.
Jorge Messi’s passing followed a lengthy illness, the specifics of which the family chose to keep confidential. His funeral took place on Sunday at the El Prado private cemetery in Pérez, close to Rosario, the city where the Messi family has deep roots.
Messi’s farewell letter to his father
In the emotional letter, Messi expressed disbelief and sorrow over his father’s departure. He revealed how difficult it was to accept that they would no longer see or speak to each other. While acknowledging that his father’s suffering made his passing a relief, Messi lamented the time they lost and the moments they had yet to share.
The football star recalled how his father had urged him to participate in one final World Cup. Tragically, just days before the tournament began, Jorge’s health took a severe downturn. For the first time, Messi faced the prospect of playing a major competition without his father’s presence, though his mother remained hopeful that Jorge would recover.
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