Lionel Messi is mourning the death of his father, Jorge Messi, who has died at the age of 68 after a prolonged illness.
Jorge died on Friday night at a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina, the Messi family confirmed, bringing to an end the life of a man who played an important role both in Lionel Messi’s personal life and his extraordinary football career.
According to reports, Jorge had spent his final months moving between a medical facility in Rosario and his home, where he was surrounded by his wife, Celia, and their children Rodrigo, Matias, Maria Sol and Lionel.
The family has not publicly disclosed the specific illness that led to his death.
A father who stood behind a football legend
For millions of football fans, Lionel Messi is one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
Behind much of that remarkable journey, however, was his father.
Jorge Messi was closely involved in his son’s football development from the earliest stages. He supported Lionel during his childhood in Rosario and later accompanied him during the difficult transition from Argentina to Spain when the young footballer joined Barcelona’s famed youth academy.
Jorge subsequently became Lionel’s representative and was involved in managing important aspects of his son’s professional career.
Lionel has previously spoken about the importance of his father’s opinion, recalling how, even after becoming one of the world’s most celebrated players, he would still seek Jorge’s assessment after matches.
That relationship made Jorge much more than a football agent. He remained a trusted adviser and one of the people closest to Lionel throughout his rise from a talented youngster in Argentina to a global sporting icon.
Messi’s emotional moments during the World Cup
News of Jorge’s declining health had already cast a shadow over Lionel Messi’s participation in the 2026 World Cup.
During Argentina’s opening match against Algeria, Messi scored a hat-trick but was visibly emotional while celebrating one of his goals.
At the time, he explained that his tears were connected to circumstances away from football.
The Messi family subsequently confirmed that Jorge was undergoing medical treatment and asked for privacy concerning his health.
Lionel later spent time with his father following the World Cup before returning to his club, Inter Miami.
Tributes pour in
Jorge’s death has prompted tributes from across the football world.
Newell’s Old Boys, the Rosario club where Lionel began his football journey, described Jorge as a central figure in supporting and guiding his son’s career.
The club acknowledged the role he played behind the scenes as Lionel progressed from his early football years to the highest levels of the sport.
Other major football institutions have also expressed condolences to the Messi family following his death.
Jorge’s influence extended beyond contract negotiations and football management. He was part of the family support system that helped Lionel navigate the enormous pressures that came with becoming one of the world’s most recognizable athletes.
A private loss behind a public career
Lionel Messi’s career has unfolded under intense global attention, with virtually every major moment documented and analyzed by millions of fans.
But the death of his father represents a deeply personal loss away from the football pitch.
Jorge Messi was present during some of the most important stages of his son’s life — from his childhood in Rosario to his emergence at Barcelona and eventually his status as one of football’s most decorated stars.
For Lionel, the loss is therefore not simply that of a longtime representative or adviser, but of the father who accompanied him through much of the journey.
As the football world remembers Jorge Messi, attention will now turn to Lionel and his family as they mourn the loss of one of the most influential figures behind the career of one of football’s greatest players.
Newsly extends its condolences to Lionel Messi, his mother Celia, his siblings and the wider Messi family.
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