Lionel Messi, Jorge Messi

Jorge Messi, father of Lionel Messi, died on Friday night (local time) at the age of 68 in Rosario, Argentina after a prolonged illness, news agency Reuters reported.He was a key figure in Lionel Messi’s career and remained involved from his son’s early days as a footballer through his rise to the top of the sport. Jorge represented Messi in negotiations with clubs and commercial companies and helped build the business setup around the Argentine footballer.

Jorge had been receiving treatment for a chronic illness for a long time and died in Rosario.“CONMEBOL deeply regrets the passing of Jorge Messi, father of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi. We accompany Lionel, his family, friends, and loved ones with respect and affection in this moment of profound grief. May he rest in peace,” the South American football governing body said in a post on X.Jorge was married to Celia Cuccittini and was the father of Lionel, Rodrigo, Matías and María Sol. For Lionel, Jorge was not only his father but also the person who handled much of his work away from the pitch.When Messi was a young player at Newell’s Old Boys, Jorge helped ensure that his son received the treatment he needed. Later, when Lionel moved to Barcelona to pursue his football career in Europe, Jorge stayed with him in Spain while Celia remained in Rosario with the rest of the family.Jorge continued to represent his son in negotiations with clubs and companies as Messi’s career developed, while also overseeing his off-field responsibilities.During the recently concluded FIFA ‌World Cup, Lionel Messi, the captain of the Argentine team, experienced mixed emotions after scoring a hat trick in the opening ⁠match against Algeria, breaking down in tears while celebrating his first goal.Later, at a press conference, Lionel explained that his tears were due to “something unrelated to football” after going through “a few difficult, complicated days.”Days later, the family issued a statement regarding Jorge’s “health situation”, informing the public that he was undergoing medical treatment.