Lionel Messi’s Father Jorge Messi Dies at 68 After Years at the Heart of His Son’s Career
For decades, Jorge Messi stood just behind the spotlight, guiding the career of a boy from Rosario who would become one of football’s greatest players.
Now, Lionel Messi has lost the man who was there from the beginning.
Jorge Horacio Messi, Lionel Messi’s father and longtime agent, died on Friday night at the age of 68 at a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina, according to Reuters.
His death marks a deeply personal loss for the Messi family and closes a chapter in the remarkable story behind Lionel Messi’s rise from a young player at Newell’s Old Boys to global football icon.
The Father Behind the Football Legend
Jorge Messi was never simply the father of a famous footballer.
He became one of the most influential figures in Lionel’s professional life, managing his son’s affairs and helping guide his career from its earliest stages.
Lionel began playing football in Rosario before joining Newell’s Old Boys as a youngster. When his development was threatened by the cost of growth hormone treatment, his family faced difficult decisions about his future.
At 13, Lionel moved to Spain and joined Barcelona’s youth system, beginning the journey that would eventually transform him into one of the most recognisable athletes in the world.
Jorge remained closely involved throughout that journey.
He later became Lionel’s agent and business manager, helping manage the commercial and professional side of a career that would span Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and Argentina.
A Private Family Struggle
Jorge’s health had become a matter of public attention in 2026.
During the World Cup, Lionel Messi appeared visibly emotional on occasions and later referred to difficult personal circumstances away from football. Reports about Jorge’s condition circulated publicly, including false claims that he had already died.
The family subsequently pushed back against those reports and indicated that Jorge was receiving medical care.
He continued receiving treatment in Rosario and elsewhere in the months that followed.
His death on Friday brought an end to that period of uncertainty.
Rosario Loses One of Its Most Famous Football Fathers
Jorge Messi’s story is inseparable from Rosario, the Argentine city where his son’s football journey began.
Newell’s Old Boys, the club where Lionel developed as a young player, acknowledged Jorge’s death and paid tribute to the role he played in supporting his son’s extraordinary career.
For Messi supporters around the world, Jorge was often seen as the quiet figure behind the football superstar.
While Lionel collected Ballon d’Or awards, lifted major trophies and became a World Cup winner, his father remained closely connected to the decisions and negotiations surrounding his career.
That relationship extended far beyond football.
Jorge was part of the family structure that supported Lionel through the pressures of becoming one of the most scrutinised athletes on the planet.
A Family Loss Behind a Global Sporting Legacy
Jorge Messi is survived by his wife, Celia Cuccittini, and their children, Lionel, Rodrigo, Matías and María Sol, as well as his grandchildren.
The football world is now mourning a man whose influence was largely exercised away from the pitch.
Lionel Messi’s career will forever be remembered through the goals, trophies and historic moments that made him a global icon.
But behind that extraordinary career was a father who helped guide the journey from the streets and youth pitches of Rosario to the biggest stages in world football.
Jorge Messi was 68.
His death leaves Lionel and the Messi family facing a loss that no trophy can soften.
