Jorge Messi, father and representative of Lionel Messi, passed away early this Saturday in a sanatorium in Rosario, Argentina, at the age of 68, after battling a long illness, as confirmed by Infobae.
His death puts an end to weeks of public uncertainty regarding his health, which began to surface during the 2026 World Cup when Jorge's absence from the stands—common at every major tournament for his son—raised alarms among the Argentine media.
It was precisely during Argentina's debut in that championship, on June 17, when Lionel could not hold back his tears after scoring the first of his three goals against Algeria. When asked, the albiceleste captain avoided the details: "It's due to something completely unrelated to sports; I went through some difficult, complicated days. I'm grateful to the entire delegation, as always, by my side."
In the mixed zone, his former teammate Juan Pablo Sorín gently pressed him about the source of his tears. "The truth is it's mainly for my family. Right now we're going through a tough time. So a lot of things came together," Messi responded.
Days later, the family issued a statement clarifying that Jorge was "under medical supervision, recovering and evolving favorably within the condition he presented." Argentine media even reported that he had been discharged and returned to his home in Rosario, which provided temporary relief. However, his condition deteriorated again until his death this Friday.
Jorge was much more than the father of the best football player in the world. Husband of Celia Cuccittini and father of four children —Lionel, Rodrigo, Matías, and María Sol— he was the silent architect of an unparalleled career in sports history.
When Lionel was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency as a teenager at Newell's Old Boys, Jorge set out to find coverage for treatment, receiving no response in Argentina or at River Plate. It was then that he negotiated an unprecedented agreement with FC Barcelona: that the club would sign a 13-year-old foreign player and also guarantee medical treatment, a salary, housing, work for the family, and image rights.
When adapting to life in Europe became complicated and the rest of the family returned to Rosario, Jorge stayed with Lionel in Barcelona. This decision was crucial in the career of the Argentine star, who recalled it in a 2007 interview: "My dad was always by my side. We went through a lot of tough times... My dad asked me what I wanted to do, did I want to continue or should we go back? I wanted to continue, and he stayed with me."
Trained as a chemical technician, Jorge had worked as a manager at the Acindar steel factory during the 1980s, as detailed in the biography of Messi by journalist Guillem Balagué. In his youth, he also played as a midfielder in the youth teams of Newell's, until military service interrupted his own football dreams.
His profile has always been low-key: he rarely granted interviews over the years and took refuge in silence while safeguarding his son's career. Over time, he also took on the commercial management of the Messi brand, negotiating contracts with major companies around the world.
The 2026 World Cup was Lionel's last, in which, at 39 years old, he scored eight goals and provided four assists before falling in the final against Spain. Messi cried inconsolably after the defeat, unaware that weeks later he would face an even more painful loss.
In that 2007 interview, Jorge left his son a message that resonates with a new dimension today: "Above being a good football player, you are an excellent person."
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