It has been confirmed that Inter Miami and Argentina‘s forward, Lionel Messi, has lost his father, Jorge Messi, who died on Saturday at the age of 68.
Jorge, who also served as his son’s agent, passed away at a hospital in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, after battling a lengthy illness.
The Messi family had kept Jorge’s health struggles private, only disclosing a “health situation” during the recent World Cup.
After scoring in Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria in June, Lionel Messi expressed that his emotions during the match were not related to football, stating, “I have been through some difficult, complicated days. I am thankful for the support I have received from my teammates and the staff during this time.”
A week later, the family released additional information: “The Messi family informs that Jorge Messi is currently going through a health situation. At this time, he is under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favorably within the condition he is experiencing.”
Jorge Messi is survived by his wife, Celia, and their four children: Lionel, Rodrigo, Matías, and their younger sister, María Sol.
Newell’s Old Boys, Messi’s first club, was among the first to pay tribute, expressing profound sorrow at Jorge’s passing. “He was a renowned supporter, businessman, and the father of Argentina’s national team captain, Lionel Messi. Jorge was a key support to Lionel’s career, inspiring him with vision, rigor, and affection,” the club stated.
Originally from Rosario, Jorge worked in a steel mill before moving to Europe when Messi joined Barcelona’s academy in 2000. He later managed Messi’s career, guiding him through his successful stints at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and finally Inter Miami.
During his tenure, Messi became Barcelona’s all-time leading appearance-maker and goal scorer while also winning the Ballon d’Or a record eight times.
Messi led Argentina to three World Cup finals in the past four tournaments, achieving victory in 2022 in Qatar for the first time in his career. This summer, he guided La Albiceleste to another final at the age of 39, where they were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Spain.
Although Jorge was unable to attend the tournament in North America, Lionel had the opportunity to visit him in Rosario after the event before resuming his duties with Inter Miami.