Antonela Roccuzzo published an emotional tribute on Instagram this Saturday to bid farewell to Jorge Horacio Messi, the father and longtime representative of Lionel Messi, who passed away early this morning at the Sanatorio Centro de Rosario, Argentina, at the age of 68, after a prolonged illness.
The wife of the Argentine star accompanied her post with family photographs and a phrase that summed up the feelings of millions: "Rest in peace, Jorge Messi. Thank you for giving us the greatest of all time."
Along with the images, Antonela shared statements that Lionel had made about his father throughout his career, originally quoted by the sports newspaper Olé.
"Papa and I talk about sports all the time. We always discuss things after the game, write to each other, and share comments. I am my own biggest critic and have always needed my father's approval. It has been that way since I was little. He has always been there for me," the football player recalled in one of those statements.
In another statement included in the tribute, Messi described his father as his most honest critic: "For my mother, I am always the best, and no matter how poorly I play, she never thinks it's my fault. All mothers are like that. Dad is honest and criticizes me. Even when I play a great game, he sees a bad pass and mocks me for it. That pushes me to improve."
Lionel himself also spoke at one point about the distance that marked his childhood with Jorge, who would wake up at four in the morning to work as a chemical technician at the Acindar factory: "My father couldn't spend enough time with us. When we did see each other, I enjoyed it a lot, because we have very similar personalities and he never got angry with me. I missed him all the time."
According to the Argentine channel TN, Lionel Messi traveled to Rosario with Antonela and their children to bid farewell to his father.
The Sanatorio Centro confirmed the death through an official statement and clarified that it would not provide further details out of respect for the family's privacy.
Jorge's illness was never publicly diagnosed, although his absence from the stands during the 2026 World Cup had already raised alarms: at that time, the family requested privacy and confirmed that he was "under medical care" with a favorable prognosis.
Jorge Messi was a pivotal figure from the very beginning of Lionel's journey in football. He was the one who took him to the Grandoli club and then to Newell's Old Boys in Rosario, and he was also the one who arranged the move to FC Barcelona in 2000 when the club agreed to pay for the hormonal treatment that the boy needed.
Throughout the star's professional career, Jorge also took on the role of representative, handling negotiations and contracts.
Reactions to the passing were immediate. The Real Madrid issued a statement expressing their "deep sorrow" over the loss and extended condolences to the family. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced a minute of silence at all its matches, black armbands for players, referees, and coaching staff, and flags at half-mast until August 14.
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