Lionel Messi Opens Up About Father’s Final World Cup Wish
Lionel Messi has shared an emotional tribute to his late father, Jorge Messi, revealing how his father’s final wish was for him to play at one more World Cup.
In an emotional message, Messi recalled how his father repeatedly encouraged him to take part in another World Cup, even as his health condition deteriorated shortly before the tournament began.
«“Dad, you kept asking me to play in one last World Cup… just days before it began was when your condition got worse,” Messi wrote.»
The Argentina captain explained that the tournament was particularly difficult because it was the first World Cup his father would not be able to attend with him.
Messi said his mother continued to reassure him that his father would recover and eventually be well enough to travel. Holding onto that hope, Messi made it his mission to guide Argentina as far as possible.
He told his father they would reach the World Cup final so he could make the trip and watch him play.
After each match, however, Messi found himself waiting for a message from his father that never came. That was when he began to understand how serious his condition had become.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about going as far as possible, to give you more time and the chance to watch one of the games,” Messi recalled.
Argentina eventually reached the final, but Jorge Messi could not be there. For Lionel, winning the tournament had become about more than football.
“I wanted to win it so I could bring the trophy to you and show you another one. I couldn’t,” Messi said.
The Argentine superstar also admitted that his body was pushed to its limits during the tournament.
“My legs just couldn’t give me any more,” he wrote, explaining that he tried to push beyond what his body could handle but never managed to feel physically right.
Despite falling short of becoming champions, Messi said the experience still meant a great deal to him and his family.
“We didn’t become champions, Dad, but you have no idea how much we enjoyed every match,” Messi wrote.
Looking back, Messi said his father was right once again: he needed to be at the World Cup and play, just as Jorge had always encouraged him to do.
The tribute offers a deeply personal look at the emotional motivation behind Messi’s final World Cup campaign and the important role his father played throughout his football career.
Source >> Fabrizio Romano