Lionel Messi shares emotional tribute to late father after World Cup Final

Lionel Messi expressed deep regret after Argentina's World Cup Final loss to Spain, highlighting the absence of his father, Jorge Messi, who died before the tournament. In an Instagram post, Messi reflected on how he pushed himself to achieve a last World Cup run, hoping to make his father proud. He shared that this was the first tournament without his father by his side, a situation that weighed heavily on him. Messi's performance in the final was impacted by physical struggles, leading to a personal disappointment as he wished to secure the title for his dad. His teammate Leandro Paredes indicated that this might be Messi's final appearance for Argentina, leaving uncertainty about his future in professional soccer.

• 5:57 PMYahoo Sports — Lionel Messi was regretful he couldn't win another World Cup for his dad after he died