Jorge Messi, father of football icon Lionel Messi, died on Friday night aged 68 at a clinic in Rosario, Argentina, following a prolonged illness, his family confirmed.
Key takeaways
- Jorge Messi spent his final months moving between a Rosario medical facility and his home.
- His wife Celia and children Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol were with him during that period.
- Lionel Messi, 39, stayed with his father after the World Cup in North America before returning to Inter Miami.
- Jorge was a constant presence during his son’s rise and represented him for several years.
- Messi once described how important his father’s opinion was after every match.
A lifelong presence in Messi’s career
Jorge spent the closing months of his life between a medical centre in Rosario and the family home, supported by his wife, Celia, and their children Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol.
Lionel Messi remained with his father following the World Cup in North America. The 39-year-old later went back to club duty with Inter Miami and returned to action one week ago.
Jorge had been closely involved in Lionel’s football journey from the player’s formative years at Barcelona. He provided important personal support and eventually took on the role of his son’s representative for several years.
Messi previously explained that his father’s reaction had always mattered deeply to him. He said that, from childhood onwards, he would seek Jorge’s opinion after games and ask whether he had played well.
Emotional World Cup moment
At the World Cup, the Argentina captain endured a powerful mix of feelings after scoring three times in the opening fixture against Algeria. He broke down in tears while celebrating the first goal of his hat-trick.
