Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s Father And Longtime Agent, Dies At 68

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Jorge Messi, nan begetter of shot prima and Argentina skipper Lionel Messi, died Saturday astatine a infirmary successful nan cardinal Argentina metropolis of Rosario. He was 68.

The Rosario-based Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys announced his decease successful a societal media station that said he had undergone curen successful caller months for an unspecified illness. The station described him arsenic “the pillar and nan personification who, pinch vision, rigor and affection, supported nan profession of nan champion subordinate of each time, alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini.”

The South American Football Confederation, CONMEBOL, successful a connection besides offered its condolences “with respect and affection for Lionel.”

Lionel Messi led Argentina to a runner-up decorativeness successful this year’s World Cup. In nan team’s first match, against Algeria, he was visibly affectional aft scoring nan first of his 3 goals. He said later that he wept for “a logic unrelated to sports.”

Inter Miami prima Lionel Messi hugs his father, Jorge Messi, while his mother, Celia Cuccittini, looks connected aft a playoff lucifer against Nashville SC successful November 2025.

(Leonardo Fernandez / Getty Images)

“I went done immoderate difficult, analyzable days,” he said. “I americium grateful to nan delegation, to each my teammates, because they were ever by my broadside wishing maine spot truthful that I would beryllium OK.”

Media reports astatine nan clip outraged nan Messi family, which days later released a connection confirming that “Jorge is experiencing a wellness issue,” without specifying nan quality of his condition.

“A person’s wellness and nan bid of mind of their loved ones should not beryllium nan taxable of speculation aliases irresponsible media interest,” according to nan statement, which besides expressed “discomfort astatine nan deficiency of sensitivity, respect and scruples pinch which immoderate group person treated a strictly backstage and family matter.”

Jorge Messi was a chemic technician and worked arsenic a steelworker. He played shot arsenic a midfielder and reached nan younker ranks of Newell’s Old Boys but had to wantonness nan athletics to complete his mandatory subject work successful Argentina.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi sits connected nan transportation aft losing to Spain successful nan World Cup last successful East Rutherford, N.J., connected July 19.

(Ashley Landis / Associated Press)

He played a basal domiciled successful his 3rd son’s career, serving arsenic his supplier and managing his business affairs. He was nan 1 who traveled pinch a young Messi to Barcelona successful nan early 2000s for nan proceedings that would unfastened nan doors to La Masia, nan Catalan club’s younker academy. Lionel Messi made his master debut successful 2005 and went connected to triumph 8 Ballon d’Or awards. He led Argentina to nan 2022 World Cup title.

“My dada was ever by my side,” Lionel Messi said successful a 2007 question and reply pinch Radio del Plata. “Sometimes I would fastener myself successful my room to outcry erstwhile we arrived successful Barcelona, aliases my dada would do nan aforesaid without maine seeing him, aliases reasoning I didn’t spot him. We pretended we were some OK, but we weren’t. My dada moreover asked maine what I wanted to do erstwhile we were emotion down, if I wanted to enactment aliases spell back, and I wanted to stay, and he stayed pinch me.”

His begetter negotiated nan contracts pinch Barça and later his transfers to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, while besides managing nan usage of his celebrated son’s image authorities and his galore investments successful existent estate, hotels, and restaurants.

In 2016, begetter and boy were convicted successful nan Spanish courts connected taxation evasion charges, but avoided situation because nan condemnation was little than 2 years.

Barreiro writes for nan Associated Press.