Lionel Messi has lost his father, Jorge Messi, who reportedly died in Rosario, Argentina, at the age of 68 after a prolonged illness.
Jorge, who served as his son’s representative for many years, was a major figure during the early stages of the Argentine superstar’s career and helped guide several important decisions that shaped his path to professional football.
His death was reported by Argentine media on Saturday, with reports stating that he passed away at a medical facility in Rosario on Friday night.
Jorge’s influence on Messi’s career began long before the footballer became a global superstar. As a youngster, Messi required growth hormone treatment, and his father played a key role in finding a way to obtain the medical care.
The family eventually made the difficult decision to move Lionel to Spain, where he joined Barcelona at the age of 13. Jorge stayed with his son during his early period in the country, providing support as the teenager adjusted to a completely new environment.
Messi later recalled that his father gave him the freedom to decide whether to remain in Spain and continue pursuing football or return to Argentina.
The decision to stay ultimately changed the course of Messi’s life. He developed through Barcelona’s system before becoming one of the club’s greatest players and eventually one of the most decorated footballers in the history of the sport.
As Messi’s fame grew, Jorge took responsibility for several aspects of his son’s professional affairs, including commercial negotiations and other matters away from the pitch.
Despite his position, Jorge was known for maintaining a relatively private life and rarely sought public attention.
He occasionally spoke about his son, however, expressing pride in Messi’s achievements and emphasising that his character mattered as much to him as his success on the football field.
Jorge’s health had become a source of concern earlier in 2026. Messi had previously acknowledged going through difficult family-related moments, although the family largely kept details of Jorge’s condition private.
Before dedicating much of his life to his son’s career, Jorge worked in Argentina’s industrial sector. He was employed by steel company Acindar from the 1980s and eventually became a manager.
He had also been involved in football as a youngster, playing in the youth ranks of Newell’s Old Boys before leaving the sport after being called up for military service
Jorge was married to Celia Cuccittini, with whom he had four children — Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol.
Although he remained largely out of the spotlight, Jorge’s contribution to Lionel Messi’s journey was significant. His support during the footballer’s childhood and difficult transition to Europe helped create the foundation for a career that would eventually reach the highest level of world football.
