Jorge Messi, Lionel's father, dies aged 68

Jorge Messi, the father and agent of Lionel Messi, died Friday night in a hospital in Rosario at the age of 68, following a long illness. The news was reported by Infobae and Diario Olé, which specified that the businessman had been hospitalized in a clinic in the Argentine city and that his death occurred around 10:00 p.m.

In addition to his role as a father, Jorge Messi also played a decisive role in the development of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s career. He spearheaded efforts to ensure that Lionel received the hormone treatment he needed as a child and made the decision to follow him to Barcelona so that he could begin his journey in European football.

Over the years, he also took on the role of the player’s representative, handling a large part of his contractual and commercial affairs.

During the 2026 World Cup, signs of the difficult family situation were already visible. After Argentina’s first match, Lionel Messi, visibly emotional, acknowledged that he was going through a difficult period due to a situation unrelated to football.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.