E-Paper
Lionel Messi's father Jorge Messi dies at 68: Report
Jorge Messi spent his final months alternating between a medical center in Rosario and his home.
Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, has passed away at the age of 68, news agency Reuters reported. Jorge, who had been battling illness for some time, died at a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina, with the family confirming the news to Reuters.
Jorge, who also worked as Messi’s representative, had been in poor health in recent months. According to the family, he spent much of his final months moving between a medical centre in Rosario and his home as he received treatment. He was surrounded by his wife, Celia, and his children Rodrigo, Matías and María Sol during this difficult period. Jorge played an important role in Messi’s career from his early days and remained one of the most influential figures in the footballer’s life.
The Inter Miami star also spent time with his family in Argentina after the FIFA World Cup, taking a break from football to be with his father. Messi stayed in Rosario and spent valuable time with Jorge before returning to the United States. He made his return to action for Inter Miami a week ago, but the time he spent with his family came during a difficult period. He scored a brace in the last match he played earlier this week.
Messi relied heavily on his father’s advice throughout his career, with Jorge also handling several aspects of his son’s football affairs away from the pitch.
“I always needed my dad's approval, ever since I was a kid. After every match, I'd ask him what he thought of how I played,” Messi said previously.
Lionel Messi's emotional battle at 2026 World Cup
Jorge was also unwell during the 2026 World Cup and was unable to travel to the United States to watch Argentina, unlike the 2022 tournament when he was present to support his son. Messi, meanwhile, went through an emotional period during the competition.
After scoring his first World Cup hat-trick against Algeria, Messi broke down in tears while celebrating his opening goal. Speaking at the press conference later, the Argentine star explained that the tears were caused by “something unrelated to football” and came after he had experienced “a few difficult, complicated days.”
A few days later, the Messi family released a statement addressing Jorge’s “health situation” and confirmed that he was undergoing medical treatment. Jorge’s condition had kept him away from the tournament, with his health becoming a concern for the family during what was otherwise a memorable World Cup for Lionel.
