Argentina and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has paid tribute to his father, Jorge Messi, following his death, saying he does not know how to continue without him.

Axar.az reports that, in a lengthy message posted on his Facebook account, Messi recalled his father’s support throughout his football career and said Jorge had encouraged him to play in the last World Cup.

“Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone. I can’t take it in, or rather, I don’t want to. It’s very difficult for me to imagine that I’ll never see you again, that we’ll never talk again.”

Messi said his father had been suffering but had died too soon, adding that they still had much to enjoy together.

“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 serious doubts about whether I’ll continue doing it for much longer.”

Recalling his childhood, Messi said his father took him to training sessions after work and never missed his matches.

“You were a father, a friend and a representative. You were always the person you needed to be at every moment, and you were never wrong about anything.”

Messi said he would continue to remember his father through the way he raises his own children.

“I’ll miss you so much, but you will always be present, especially in the way I raise my children, because I teach and raise them the way you raised me.”

He ended the tribute by thanking his father and asking him to continue watching over the family.

“Rest in peace and watch over us from above, as you did here. Thank you for everything.”

It should be noted that Jorge Messi died at the age of 68 on August 8.