'Silence, calm, peace are what's best': Messi to dictate own playing schedule post father's demise

Lionel Messi will be allowed to determine his own playing schedule as he deals with the death of his father, Jorge Messi, with Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos saying the Argentine needs “silence, calm and peace” during an intensely difficult period.

Jorge Messi, who played a central role throughout his son's extraordinary football career and served for years as his representative, died in Rosario earlier this month at the age of 68 following a prolonged illness. Messi subsequently travelled to Argentina to be with his family and attend a private memorial service.

Inter Miami have indicated they will not rush their 39-year-old captain back into a regular playing schedule, leaving him to decide when he feels ready to take the field.

‘A lot of pain’

Speaking ahead of Inter Miami's MLS fixture against Nashville, Hoyos declined to give a definitive answer on Messi's availability.

“I think Leo’s situation needs to keep developing little by little because there’s a lot of pain there,” Hoyos said, adding that the grieving process was not something that could be overcome immediately.

The coach said “silence, calm and peace” were best for Messi and stressed the importance of allowing him to find his own moments as he deals with the loss.

Messi had temporarily stepped away from football following his father's death and did not immediately set a date for his return to Miami.

He subsequently returned to action as a second-half substitute in Inter Miami's 3-2 Leagues Cup defeat to Leon on Wednesday. His limited involvement reflected the club's cautious approach to his return.

Messi questioned future

The personal loss has also raised uncertainty over how long Messi intends to continue his career.

In an emotional tribute to his father, Messi acknowledged having doubts about whether he would continue playing for much longer. Jorge had been alongside him from his childhood in Rosario through his years at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami.

Messi also revealed that his father's wish had been an important factor behind his decision to play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Argentina reached the final before losing to Spain after extra time.

Jorge's health had deteriorated shortly before the tournament, and Messi said he found his father's absence particularly difficult because he had grown accustomed to receiving a message from him after matches.

The Argentine captain struggled with the emotional burden during the tournament and broke down in tears after scoring a hat-trick against Algeria. He later said he had pushed himself physically in an attempt to win the World Cup for his father.

Despite his uncertainty about football, Messi said his father's influence would continue through his own family, pledging to raise his children with the values with which Jorge had raised him.

For now, Inter Miami are giving their biggest star the space to determine the pace of his return, placing his personal wellbeing ahead of the club's immediate sporting demands.