Jorge Messi, father and long-time representative of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68 after a prolonged illness.
Argentine media, including Infobae, reported that he passed away on Friday evening at a sanatorium in his hometown of Rosario. Newell’s Old Boys, the club where Lionel began his career, confirmed the death in a statement expressing deep sorrow.
Jorge, married to Celia Cuccittini and father of four children including Lionel, played a central role in his son’s development. He helped arrange growth hormone treatment for the young Lionel and facilitated the family’s move to Barcelona when the player was 13.
Lionel later recalled those early years in Spain: “My old man was always by my side. We lived through many bad moments. 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.”
Jorge largely stayed out of the public eye while managing his son’s off-field affairs and commercial interests. His health had drawn attention during the 2026 World Cup, when Lionel became emotional after Argentina’s opening match and later cited family difficulties.
The Messi family had previously stated that Jorge was under medical supervision and recovering within the limits of his condition. No official statement from the family on his death had been issued at the time of reporting.
