Messi loses father Jorge at 68 after prolonged illness

Jorge Messi, father and long-time representative of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68, according to reports from Argentine media.

Jorge reportedly died at about 10pm on Friday at a sanatorium in Rosario, Argentina, after a prolonged illness.

He was married to Celia Cuccittini, with whom he had four children — Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol.

Jorge played a significant role in Lionel Messi’s development from a young player at Newell’s Old Boys into one of the most celebrated footballers in history.

He was particularly instrumental in helping his son secure medical treatment for a growth-related condition when the family struggled to obtain the required therapy in Argentina.

His efforts eventually contributed to Lionel’s move to Barcelona at the age of 13, where the youngster continued his football development.

Jorge stayed with Lionel in Spain during the early and challenging stages of his career, while the rest of the family remained in Rosario.

Reflecting on those difficult years in a 2007 interview, Messi recalled his father asking whether he wanted to remain in Spain and continue pursuing his football dream or return home.

“My old man was always by my side. We lived through many bad moments,” Messi said at the time.

Jorge later became an important figure in managing his son’s professional affairs, including contract negotiations and commercial relationships with major international brands.

Despite his influence on one of football’s biggest stars, Jorge largely remained away from the public spotlight and rarely granted interviews.

In one emotional message to his son, Jorge reflected on the family’s difficult journey and praised Lionel not only for his football ability but also for his character.

Jorge’s health had attracted attention during the 2026 World Cup after Messi became emotional following Argentina’s opening match.

When asked about his reaction after scoring a hat-trick, Messi said his emotions were linked to circumstances outside football.

“It is for a reason completely unrelated to sport. I had some difficult, complicated days,” he said.

Asked about the family situation, he added, “The truth is, more than anything, because of the family.”

The Messi family later said Jorge was under medical supervision and recovering favourably within the circumstances of his condition.

Before becoming involved in managing his son’s career, Jorge trained as a chemical technician and worked at Acindar, an Argentine steel company, where he eventually became a manager.

He also had a football background, having played as a midfielder in Newell’s youth system before leaving the sport after being called up for military service.

Jorge’s death marks the loss of a figure who largely operated behind the scenes but played a pivotal role in the journey that took Lionel Messi from a young boy in Rosario to one of the most decorated footballers of all time.