Jorge Messi, the father of global football star Lionel Messi, passed away on Friday night at the age of sixty-eight following a prolonged illness. According to reports from the Reuters and AFP news agencies, he breathed his last at a medical clinic located in the Argentinian city of Rosario. The heartbreaking news was officially confirmed to media outlets by the footballer`s grieving family, drawing an outpouring of condolences from across the international sports community.
The family shared that Jorge spent the final months of his life alternating between a specialized medical center in Rosario and his family home. Throughout this challenging period, he was constantly accompanied and supported by his wife, Celia, alongside his children Rodrigo, Matias, and Maria Sol. Lionel Messi had spent valuable time with his father following the conclusion of the World Cup before returning to resume his professional club commitments with Inter Miami, where he recently stepped back onto the pitch.
Jorge Messi played an indispensable role throughout his son’s legendary football journey, remaining a constant pillar of support from the early days in Rosario to the historic triumphs at Barcelona and beyond. For several years, he also managed vital aspects of his son`s career as his representative, guiding him through complex professional transitions. In past interviews, Lionel Messi frequently emphasized how crucial his father`s approval and post-match feedback had been to his development since childhood, noting that he always sought his father`s validation after every game.
Tributes poured in from across the football world, including a heartfelt statement from Newell`s Old Boys, the childhood club where Lionel`s journey first began. The club noted in a public statement that Jorge`s steadfast companionship and behind-the-scenes guidance were fundamental in supporting every milestone of his son`s remarkable career. During the recent World Cup campaign, the Argentina national team captain experienced intense emotional moments, notably breaking down in tears after scoring a hat-trick in the opening match against Algeria.
At a subsequent post-match press conference, Lionel explained that his overwhelming emotions stemmed from personal matters unrelated to football, specifically pointing toward the family`s ongoing struggles regarding his father`s delicate health situation. Days following those emotional matches, the family released a public statement providing updates on Jorge`s medical treatments. The passing of Jorge Messi marks the end of a quiet yet profoundly influential chapter behind one of football`s greatest icons, leaving family, fans, and the sporting world in deep mourning.
