Jorge Messi, the father and longtime representative of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68.
Jorge died on Friday night in Rosario, Argentina, following a prolonged illness.
His death marks the loss of a central figure in Lionel Messi’s journey from a young footballer in Rosario to one of the most decorated players in the history of the sport.
Jorge played a crucial role in his son’s development, particularly when Lionel needed growth hormone treatment as a child.
After efforts to secure the treatment in Argentina proved unsuccessful, Jorge helped arrange Lionel’s move to Barcelona at the age of 13.
He remained with his son in Spain during the early stages of his European career while the rest of the family stayed in Rosario.
Reflecting on that period, Messi once recalled the difficult decision he faced with his father.
“My old man was always by my side. We lived through many bad moments.”
Messi said his father eventually asked whether he wanted to continue pursuing his football dream in Spain or return home.
“My old man asked me, what do you want to do, do you want to continue or shall we go back? I wanted to continue and he stayed with me.”
That decision proved pivotal as Messi went on to establish himself at Barcelona before becoming one of football’s most successful players.
Jorge later became closely involved in managing his son’s professional affairs, including negotiations with major international brands.
Despite his influence, he largely remained away from the spotlight and rarely gave interviews.
In one emotional message to his son as Messi’s career was taking off, Jorge recalled the challenges they had overcome together and expressed pride in the person his son had become.
“You know very well that we have gone through many good and not-so-good moments.”
He added that the difficult experiences had strengthened the family and said that beyond being an exceptional footballer, Lionel was “an excellent person.”
Jorge’s Health Battle
Concerns over Jorge’s health became public during the 2026 World Cup after Messi appeared emotional following Argentina’s opening match.
After scoring a hat-trick, Messi said his reaction was unrelated to football.
“It is for a reason completely unrelated to sport. I had some difficult, complicated days.”
Asked about the family situation, he added:
“The truth is, more than anything, because of the family.”
The Messi family subsequently said Jorge was under medical supervision and recovering favourably within the condition he was experiencing. The family had also asked for privacy surrounding his health.
Jorge was trained as a chemical technician and began working at Argentine steel company Acindar in the 1980s, eventually becoming a manager.
He also had a football background, having played as a midfielder in Newell’s Old Boys’ youth system before leaving the sport after being called up for military service.
His death closes the life of a man who largely operated behind the scenes but played an important role in shaping and managing one of football’s greatest careers.
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