Lionel Messi Mourns Father Jorge, Who Dies at 68 After Prolonged Illness
Football superstar Lionel Messi is mourning the death of his father, Jorge Messi, who passed away on Friday night at the age of 68 following a prolonged illness.
Jorge died at a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina, where he had spent his final months receiving medical care, according to the family.
He had reportedly moved between the medical facility and his home in Rosario, where he was surrounded by his wife, Celia, and their children, Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol.
Jorge played a major role in Lionel Messi’s remarkable football journey, supporting his son from his early days as a young player and remaining closely involved throughout his career.
He was particularly influential during Messi’s formative years at Barcelona and later worked as his representative for several years.
Messi has previously spoken about the importance of his father’s opinion, recalling how he would seek Jorge’s reaction after matches.
“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,” the Argentina captain said in a previous interview.
Messi’s childhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, also paid tribute to Jorge, acknowledging the important role he played behind the scenes in supporting his son’s career.
“His constant companionship and behind-the-scenes leadership were essential in backing every step of Lionel,” the club said in a statement shared on social media.
Jorge’s health had also become a source of concern during the 2026 World Cup period. Messi had spent time with his father after the tournament before returning to Inter Miami, where he resumed playing recently.
During Argentina’s opening World Cup match against Algeria, Messi scored a hat-trick but was visibly emotional after scoring his first goal.
Asked about the tears at a subsequent press conference, he said they were connected to “something unrelated to football”, adding that he had been through “a few difficult, complicated days”.
The family later confirmed that Jorge was undergoing medical treatment.
Jorge Messi’s death marks a deeply personal loss for the football icon, whose father remained one of the most important figures in his life and career.
