Messi says not certain to play ‘much longer’ after father’s death

Argentina superstar and inspiration behind his country’s 2022 World Cup victory Lionel Messi said Wednesday he has “serious doubts” about continuing to play football for “much longer” after the death of his father Jorge Messi.

“I don’t know what I’ll do without you, I don’t know how to go on. I just played football, and now I have serious doubts about continuing to do so for much longer,” Messi, 39, wrote in a message on social media after his father, who was also his agent, died last week aged 68. biznow.biz

In the message, Messi, whose contract with Major League Soccer outfit Inter Miami runs till the end of the 2028 season, reflected on the final months of his father’s life, which coincided with the 2026 World Cup.

“I kept telling you we would reach the final so you could make the trip,” said Messi, who returned to the United States on Tuesday night following his father’s funeral on Sunday.

“We made it to the final, but you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it to bring it to you and show you a new one. I couldn’t, my legs just gave out.

“This time I tried to push past my physical limits, but I couldn’t. I never felt right,” Messi said in his first comments after the 1-0 loss to Spain in the final in New Jersey.

Messi highlighted his father’s pivotal role in his life and career: “You were a father, a friend, and an agent. You were always exactly who you needed to be in every moment, and you never put a foot wrong.”

Jorge Messi’s unusual absence from the World Cup in June had already attracted attention.

Messi’s family asked the media for “humanity” during the tournament amid persistent rumours over Jorge’s health.

After bursting into tears after scoring against Algeria in a group match, Messi had admitted to dealing with “a situation outside of sports”.

On Sunday, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner bid farewell to his father during a private ceremony with close family and a few Argentina teammates in the town of Perez, adjacent to Rosario.

The cause of death was not disclosed, but local media reported that Jorge Messi had been suffering from cancer.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, August 12, 2026 – KCB Rugby fly half Brian Wahinya is relishing competition from new signings Nygel Amaitsa, Ben Kihiti and David Nyangige.

Wahinya says the competition will only make him better as they sharpen one another through regular feedback and teamwork.

“I wouldn’t say I feel threatened by the new arrivals. I have been here (at KCB) for a while so there’s no need for me to feel threatened. On the contrary, I am happy with their arrivals because it means competition for places, which can only make me better. We will be offering regular feedback to each other to help each other and pushing each other to become better,” the former Kenyatta University Blak Blad player said.

As one of the long serving members of the ‘Den,’ Wahinya says he is only too happy to help the newcomers bed in, showing them the ropes within the club.

“The first and most important thing is to make them feel welcome. As a playmaker, my work is to tell them what is expected of them. We just guide them through the system, to make them feel part of the family. Most of the new players, we know each other even before they come to KCB so it’s mostly about welcoming them to the club,” he said.

Wahinya joined the bankers in 2021 from Blak Blad, going on to play a pivotal role in the team’s successes in the five years he has donned the green and white of the Kenyan giants.

His trophy cabinet includes the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award from the 2023 National Sevens Circuit (NSC), which the bankers won, as well as 2022 and 2023 Impala Floodlit Tournament, and the 2025 NSC.

Wahinya has also become a mainstay of the national rugby 15s side, Simbas, featuring in a number of competitions, including Africa Cup, Rugby World Cup qualifiers and Elgon Cup among others.

His experience, besides playmaking skills, will be needed once again as the bankers chase glory at this weekend’s Kabeberi 7s at the RFUEA Grounds over the weekend.

Andrew Amonde’s charges are eager to atone for their somewhat disappointing show at the Dala 7s – the second leg of the NSC – in Kisumu where they fell to Quins in the main cup quarters.

The loss meant that the bankers relinquished their Dala 7s crown, which arch-rivals Kabras Sugar were only too happy to lap up with a 17-5 win over Menengai Oilers in the final.

“We have no option…everyone knows what is at stake. Everyone is coming guns blazing even though other teams will come hard against us. Kabeberi has always been our hunting ground for the past four years and this weekend is our chance to extend our legacy,” Wahinya said.

Amid the grueling preps for the Kabeberi battle, Wahinya took time out to grace the unveiling of a Ksh 2.5 million sponsorship by HACO Industries towards Simbas at the company’s headquarters in Kasarani on Wednesday afternoon.

The St Mary’s Yala School alumnus praised the renewed sponsorship, describing it as a boost to players.

“It is a nice surprise because we thought that the 15s had been forgotten. For them to come on board to support shows a lot of trust and shows a good trajectory. If we can play as many games as possible and wins as well, I am sure more people will come on board,” he said.

He described himself as an avid user of Amara Skincare products, expressing excitement that the brand has supported a sport he loves.

The sponsorship, follows another one two years ago towards the team, worth Ksh 1.5 million.

More than 150 athletes participated in Eritrea’s 31st National Half Marathon Competition in Mendefera on Sunday, 9 August 2026.

Organised by the National Athletics Federation of Eritrea, the competition drew athletes from the Southern, Central, and Gash-Barka regions, as well as the Ministry of Defence’s Denden Club.

In the men’s half-marathon, Major Tedros from the Southern Region secured first place with a time of 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 41 seconds. Teklehaimanot Berhane, also from the Southern Region, finished second, followed by Saimon Mebrahtu from Denden Club in third.

In the women’s half-marathon, Olympian Nazareth Woldu from the Gash-Barka Region claimed victory, completing the race in 1 hour, 19 minutes, and 1 second. Mikal Tsegazeab and Olympian Dolci Tesfu, both representing Denden Club, finished second and third, respectively.

In the men’s five-kilometre race, Yobel Zerit from the Central Region won with a time of 14 minutes, 14 seconds, and 3 microseconds. For the women’s five-kilometre category, Delina from the Central Region finished first in 16 minutes, 43 seconds, and 24 microseconds.

The one-mile race saw Fitsum Abraham from the Southern Region win the men’s category, while Canary Teklemariam from the Central Region won the women’s category.

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The Stormers XXIII have honed in on the weak points in their game following a heartbreaking Currie Cup loss to the Cheetahs in Athlone.

The hosts conceded an 80th-minute try and were denied a third home win of the campaign when Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk snuck over in the corner.

Captain Jean-Luc du Plessis says they’ll look to sharpen up for Saturday’s clash against the Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium and that those soft moments have been placed under the microscope.

TEAM: Stormers bolster pack for Pumas battle

“It’s definitely been a talking point – both after the game and in our team review this week,” said Du Plessis.

“There have definitely been patches in games where there have been soft moments, whether it’s decision-making, execution or discipline where we just allow the opposition to get back into the game. It’s an area we’ve been looking at and I’m sure we’ll sharpen up come this weekend.”

The Stormers have also been working on building cohesion in a squad that has been affected by the demands of the domestic schedule and player movements.

Du Plessis, who found himself in the wars against the Cheetahs, believes getting more minutes together is crucial as the team looks to build rhythm.

“At this point in time, I’m still a little bit sore, to be honest, but I’ll be good to go by Friday,” he said.

“For me personally, it’s good to spend time on the park, spend time with the team and just get minutes under the belt. But for the team, I think it’s also important for us to play as many minutes together as we can to stay sharp.”

MORE: Stormers to make late call on Magic Miller

Coach Tom Dawson-Squibb acknowledged that building cohesion has been challenging given the circumstances surrounding the squad.

“The system makes it difficult. We started against Griquas and Boland who play together all the time – we didn’t have that,” he said.

“Then you have the Greatest Rivalry, you’ve got guys coming back from rest periods at different times and the Junior Boks. So the system makes it difficult and what we’re trying to do is create as much cohesion as possible that’s within our control.”

Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images

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