Lionel Messi Loses Father at 68

Jorge Messi, father and long-time representative of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68.

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Argentine news outlet Infobae reported on Saturday that Jorge died at about 10pm on Friday at a sanatorium in Rosario, Argentina, following a prolonged illness.

Jorge played a significant role in his son’s rise from a young player at Newell’s Old Boys to one of football’s greatest stars. He was instrumental in securing medical treatment for Lionel when he required growth hormone therapy and later helped arrange his move to Barcelona at the age of 13 after efforts to obtain the treatment in Argentina proved unsuccessful.

He remained with Lionel in Spain during the early and challenging years of his European career while the rest of the family stayed in Rosario. Jorge later became a key figure in managing his son’s professional affairs, including negotiations with major global brands, while largely keeping away from the public spotlight.

Jorge’s health became a concern during the 2026 World Cup after Messi became emotional following Argentina’s opening match. Asked about his reaction after scoring a hat-trick, Messi said it was related to “some difficult, complicated days” and later acknowledged that the situation was connected to his family.

The Messi family subsequently disclosed that Jorge was under medical supervision and was recovering within the condition he presented.

Jorge, who was married to Celia Cuccittini and had four children, Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol, was trained as a chemical technician and worked at Acindar, an Argentine steel company, where he eventually became a manager.

He had also played football as a youngster in Newell’s youth system before leaving the sport after being called up for military service.

His death marks the loss of a largely private figure who played a central role in guiding and managing Lionel Messi’s remarkable football career.