Erratum: Una versión anterior de esta noticia atribuyó incorrectamente a Antonela Roccuzzo una publicación realizada en Instagram por una cuenta de seguidores dedicada a ella. CiberCuba corrigió el titular, el resumen y el contenido del artículo para identificar adecuadamente el origen de la publicación. Lamentamos el error.
A followers account dedicated to Antonela Roccuzzo posted a message on Instagram in tribute to Jorge Horacio Messi, the father and historical representative of Lionel Messi, who passed away this Saturday at the Sanatorio Centro in Rosario, Argentina, at the age of 68, following a prolonged illness.
The post, shared by a fan account of Antonela Roccuzzo, included family photographs and the message: "Rest in peace, Jorge Messi. Thank you for giving us the best of all time."
In a previous version of this article, CiberCuba incorrectly attributed that post to Antonela Roccuzzo. The account that shared the content is a fan page and not the official account of Lionel Messi's wife.
The publication also cited statements attributed to Lionel Messi regarding his relationship with his father throughout his career.
In one of them, the football player recalled the importance of Jorge's opinion to him and the relationship they shared regarding football. In another, he described his father as an honest person when it came to evaluating his performance, someone capable of pointing out mistakes even after a good match.
Lionel Messi has also spoken publicly about his relationship with his father and the family sacrifices made during his childhood. Jorge worked as a chemical technician before taking on a crucial role in his son's sporting career.
According to the Argentine channel TN, Lionel Messi traveled to Rosario with Antonela and their children to say goodbye to his father.
The Centro Sanatorio confirmed the death through an official statement and noted that it would not provide further details out of respect for the family's privacy.
The diagnosis of Jorge Messi's illness was not made public. His absence from the stands during the 2026 World Cup had raised concerns, and the family had requested privacy regarding his health status.
Jorge Messi was a key figure from Lionel's early steps in football. He accompanied his athletic development from Rosario and managed his move to FC Barcelona in 2000, when the player was still a child.
Throughout Lionel Messi's professional career, Jorge also took on the role of representative and was involved in negotiations and contracts related to the Argentine star's journey.
The reactions to his passing were immediate. Real Madrid issued a statement expressing their "deep sorrow" over the loss and extended their condolences to the family. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) called for a minute of silence in their matches, black armbands, and flags at half-mast until August 14.
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