Muere Jorge Messi, padre de Leo Messi, a los 68 años

Jorge Horacio Messi, the foundational architect of Lionel Messi's career and the guardian of his family's historic migration to Europe, died at the age of 68. According to reports advanced by Infobae and confirmed across multiple outlets, he passed away on Friday night at approximately 22:00 local time in a clinic in his native Rosario, following a long and closely guarded illness.

His death closes the chapter on a remarkably influential yet intentionally low-profile life that underpinned global football history. As both father and long-serving representative, Jorge Messi managed the complex business affairs, legal representation, and commercial negotiations for his son across spells at FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami, shielding the star from intense public scrutiny while remaining an omnipresent pillar behind the scenes.

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The toll of Jorge's declining health had become visibly apparent months prior. During the World Cup tournament, Lionel Messi was seen fighting back tears on the pitch after scoring the opening Goal in Argentina's opening match. Asked about the emotional display in the mixed zone, the forward acknowledged to journalists, Es por una cuestión totalmente ajena a lo deportivo, pasé unos días difíciles, complicados, according to reporting from Crónica Global and Diario de Cuyo. Former Argentina player Juan Pablo Sorín subsequently asked him about the family strain, prompting the player to express gratitude to his teammates for sustaining him through a difficult period.

Speculation surrounding his health intensified during the competition, culminating in a public defense by the family. In mid-June, the Messi family released a statement denouncing false rumors regarding his condition and expressing profound malestar over media intrusion. The family stated that Jorge was under medical care, recuperándose y evolucionando favorablemente dentro del cuadro que presenta, while condemning what they termed a lack of sensitivity and respect in handling a strictly private matter, as detailed by Antena3 and Sport.

Long before managing high-profile contracts and global brand negotiations, Jorge worked as a chemical engineering technician and managed a factory for Acindar in the 1980s, having previously played as a midfielder in the youth ranks of Newell's Old Boys before military service interrupted his athletic pursuits, as chronicled in Guillem Balagué's biography cited by Diario de Cuyo. His trajectory shifted permanently when his young son required costly growth hormone treatments. After failing to secure coverage from Newell's and facing stalled talks with River Plate, Jorge took the unprecedented step of organizing a trial in Spain.

That relocation changed the trajectory of world Sport. Jorge negotiated an agreement that secured medical treatment, housing, employment for the family, and a salary for a 13-year-old foreign prospect. When cultural adjustment proved difficult and the rest of the family initially returned to Argentina, Jorge stayed behind in a Barcelona apartment on Gran Via de Carles III after giving his son the choice to continue or return home. Mi viejo estuvo siempre al lado mío. Vivimos muchas cosas feas. Por ahí yo me encerraba a llorar solo en la pieza, o él lo mismo, sin que lo viera, Lionel recalled in a 2007 interview with Radio Del Plata, noting how his father asked him whether he wanted to keep trying or go back.

Married to Celia Cuccittini, Jorge raised four children—Rodrigo, Lionel, Matías, and María Sol—and constructed a protective barrier around his family, granting very few interviews throughout his life to outlets like El Gráfico, Kicker, and Informe Robinson. As Goal notes, his quiet presence provided the stability that allowed the football icon to focus entirely on the pitch.

The Final Months and Ongoing Developments

According to reports advanced by Infobae and detailed across coverage from Diario de Cuyo and Diario de Avisos, the official confirmation of his passing brought an end to months of intense speculation and private anguish. While Argentine media advanced the initial news, publications including Goal and Sport highlighted the profound impact of his passing on the global football community. The Messi family has yet to issue a further official statement regarding memorial arrangements, leaving the next step dependent on family announcements from Rosario.